Price 30 Cents. 


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HISTORY 

OF 

DUNGEON ROCK. 


COMPLETED SEri'. 17lli, lS5(i. 

K N ill S IC K. 


BOSTON: 

PUBLISHED BY BELA MARSH, 

14 BROMFIELD STREET. 

1806. 


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THE 


HISTORY 


DUNGEON ROCK. 


COMPLETED SEPT. 17tli, 1856. 


E N E S E E. 


BOSTON: 

PUBLISHED BY BELA MARSH, 

14 BROMFIELD ST. 




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1 > ) 


'Pis 

.^534 

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Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1856, by 
HIRAM MARBLE, 

In the Clerlc*s Office of the District Court for the District of Massachusetts. 







if?. 


PREFACE. 


The object of the present work is to give a reasonable, 
and, as far as circumstances will permit, a perfectly true 
account of the past, present, and future destinies of Dungeon 
Rock. We do not claim for our book that it is a miraculous 
production, but simply a natural record of facts, given in a 
natural way. We assert that the book was dictated by dis- 
embodied spirits. And what then ? Does it necessarily fol- 
low that all spirits are engaged in like work? It may be 
argued that such thoughts as the history of an earthly place 
would call up are law for spirits. But there is no ground for 
such a statement, and we refute it in this way : That there 
are spirits of every degree, from the lowest to the purest 
and highest. Of course, somewhere in the rank come in 
those who are principally, or even wholly, interested in the 
world. If by that interest they can give to men a truth in 
lieu of a falsehood, it is so much good done, be it for the 
lowest den of infamy, for Dungeon Rock, or for the Capitol 
of the United States, which does, or aught to^ contain the 
noblest hearts and the firmest minds which America affords. 


IV 


PREFACE. 


At any rate, we ask that our book may be read, and the place 
of which it speaks' visited, before judgment is passed upon it as 
a foolish undertaking, or a senseless work. Spiritualism is 
a growing doctrine. It is weaving itself into the every-day 
walks of life. We have but one word to say for it, which is. 
Investigate, It is all we ask, — all we want. 


Enesee. 


\ 


1 

T / 





HISTORY OP DUNGEON ROCK 


Dungeon Rock is as yet only half known. More 
than “ two hundred years ago,” when first the foot of 
civilization pressed the unturned sod of New England’s 
rock-bound soil, a man, past the prime of life, having 
lost his place in England, determined on seeking a new 
name in a new country. Accordingly, he embarked with 
his only earthly treasures, — his wife and the family 
coat of arms, — and, after a dangerous voyage, reached 
Plymouth Rock, only to encounter more dangers. And 
there, in that lonely home, away from all that makes 
life desirable to childhood, did the little William first see 
the light of day, and begin the battle of living without 
love. None but those who have experienced it can tell 
how deep and terrible is the sternness of a disappointed 
man. 

Ben Wallace — for this was the adventurer’s name — 
had acquired a morbid hate for everything bright and 
beautiful, and lived, like most of New England’s early 
settlers, for the stern realities of life, expecting nothing 
but hardships, and, therefore, seeking nothing. No won- 
der, then, that the aristocratic blood of English ancestry, 
1 * 


6 


HISTORY OF DUNGEON ROCK. 


coursing through the child’s veins, rose against the injus- 
tice of being a dependent where he should have been a 
pride ; and, even in his baby days, when the garden was his 
playground, the unrooted stumps his rocking-horses, and 
the strips of painted basket material, which he now and 
then received from the Indian children in the neighbor- 
hood, represented to his childish gaze the flags and banners 
of ancient heraldry, which his mother pointed out to him 
upon the coat of arms, — even then he defied his father’s 
commands, and turned from his stern reproofs to whisper 
the childish longings of his own heart to the birds and the 
dancing stream. ‘‘I hate it,” he said passionately, when 
he had arrived at the age of fourteen ; I hate the strong 
fence that keeps me from finding other people’s homes ! 
I hate to be confined to work that I detest, just for the 
sake of getting food from day to day. I will not do it. 
The world shall know that William Wallace was not born 
for no purpose. I will help some one, if it is savages 
and wild beasts.” 

Thus spoke the stripling in his lonely home. For six 
long years did he cherish that one bright thought. It 
was all the hope he had to stimulate him when labor was 
his only portion, and life was scarcely worth the danger 
of preserving it. At last he refused to bear it any longer; 
and, one pleasant night in the early spring, he dressed 
himself as near like a native as he could, gathered his 
own clothes into as small a compass as possible, sprang 
lightly over the garden fence, and carefully threaded his 
way through the almost pathless wood to the nearest 
Indian camp. From there it was an easy task to go 
further, and he soon began his plans for himself. These 


HISTORY OF DUNGEON ROCK. 


7 


were, to get as far from Plymouth as he dared, and still 
be somewhere in the region of civilization. It was before 
the foundery was started in Saugus, when only a few stal- 
wart men were discussing the probability of extensive 
mines in that direction. But Wallace liked the sea-shore ; 
so he built him a residence miles and miles away from 
any human habitation, determined to assist the first suffer- 
ing creature that came within his reach. Custom soon 
came. Little clubs of men often repaired some worn-out 
canoe, left by the Indians upon the sand, and embarked 
in it upon the dashing billows to try their luck in pro- 
curing fish for food. Almost invariably there would some 
mishap befall them; and every night the bold young 
Wallace went to rest with a proud and happy smile curv- 
ing his delicate lips, and a feeling of true unselfish 
generosity nestling in his heart. He was happy in his 
honest calling, and wished for no greater reward than 
what he received from the natives, and the rough but 
kind-hearted settlers. 

For a short time he lived thus, and his whole soul w'as 
in his work. But a change came at last. One fearful 
stormy night, when the waves rolled far up on the dark 
sand, and the rain and the wind chanted their wild music, 
he heard a low moan, instantly followed by a loud cry of 
agony, and quick calls for help. 

He was used to scenes of danger, and, merely suppos- 
ing that another frail boat had consigned its precious 
charge to the watery god, and that more human beings 
were in need of help, he arose, unbarred the low door, 
and bade the strangers welcome. 

Before they entered the house, its inmates — consisting 


8 


HISTORY OF DUNGEON ROCK. 


of a young Scotchman, his fair, pleasant-looking English 
wife, and their daughter, whose years had been spent in 
luxury until now, that ten summers had passed above her 
head, her beauteous home had gone, and she too was 
destined to a life of labor — were all astir, and the warm 
fire lighted in the heavy grate. 

A tall, well-formed man first entered the room, with a 
thick frock of shag enveloping his person, confined at the 
waist by a broad belt, into which was thrust an unsheathed 
dirk-knife, and a short sword hung suspended by his 
side. His hat was dripping with water, and his broad 
shoulders and powerfully built frame made him look, in 
his unique costume, like a representation of Hercules ; 
while his black hair and eyes, and burlesque manner and 
motions, gave him the appearance of what he really was, 
a pirate and a plunderer. 

Give us the most comfortable place in the house,’’ he 
said, with a careless glance around. If it had not been 
for this accursed storm, and the woman aboard, we should 
not have been obliged to come at all.” And he strode 
out again into the darkness, followed by Jamie Burns, 
the Scotch emigrant, who was resting there until he 
could find a home for himself 

Alice,” said the mother, nervously, as she saw the 
child walk firmly to the open door, ^‘do keep away all 
you can. If we are all to be murdered, we might as well 
be cautious about it, as to run into danger with our eyes 
wide open;” and, turning from the beating rain, she 
drew the rough oaken chair to the fire, and arranged a 
fleecy lamb’s-wool blanket, which she had brought from 
home, about its comfortable cushions. 


HISTORY OF DUNGEON ROCK. 


9 


They soon returned. Veale, the first comer, bore a 
slight girlish form in his arms, enveloped in satin and 
ermine; her fair pale face forming a strange contrast 
with the deep crimson hood which fell back from her high 
white brow, revealing the sunny-hued curls which hung 
over her rich dress. 

There w^ere four other men, in the same dress and 
having the same general appearance as the first; and, 
from the noise outside, Wallace concluded there were 
several more to come. 

The men took very little notice of each other, and the 
lady was beginning to revive under the kindly care 
of Mrs. Burns, when the voices again approached the 
door, and, after a short consultation there, three kept on 
across the beach, and another entered the house. 

This last was called Harris by the lady and the men 
within, who seemed to look up to him as their captain, 
or, rather, their leader. He appeared the youngest of 
them all ; but there was a lofty look of daring in his 
dark hazel eyes, and an unfaltering determination in his 
small mouth, that seemed to quell each motion of famil- 
iarity. He looked kindly at the little group huddled 
around the fire, and gazing so suspiciously at his band of 
followers. He was rather tall, but very slightly formed, 
and his dark green frock and crimson sash set oif his 
wild beauty to peculiar advantage. 

“ Is it far to where you are going, lady ? ‘^ said Alice, 
timidly. 

The pale face lighted up a moment with pleas»tre, and, 
as she turned toward the child, and laid hor white 
dimpled hand on Alice’s brown hair, she looked auite 


10 


HISTOKY OF DUNGEON ROCK. 


like a living being. ‘‘I do not know, little one,’’ she 
answered: ‘‘I never was this way before. I wish I did 
know where we are,” she continued, sadly, with a wistful 
glance at the half-closed door. 

‘‘ It is only a little way from here,” said Harris, sooth- 
ingly ; see, the moon is coming out already, and we shall 
soon be on our way.” And taking a small compass from 
his pocket, he adjusted it in the window-frame, as if to 
shape the course he should take when he left. Go and 
unfasten the boat,” he said, peremptorily, to one of the 
men, and bring up my mantle for your mistress. Quick, 
man,” he added, as the man hesitated; ‘^are you afraid 
of the moonshine ? ” and, impatiently opening the rough 
door, he gazed upon the hurrying clouds and the strag- 
gling moonbeams, that half lighted the broken rocks near 
the dwelling. 

The man returned from the water with a large, heavily 
embroidered mantle, the deep gold-tipped fringe almost 
sweeping the floor as he threw it over his shoulders to see 
if it was uninjured. At last they left, just as the gray 
dawn was breaking. Veale, who seemed to be chief as- 
sistant, gave a signal, and the four men marched rapidly 
down to the water. Harris threw a purse of gold upon 
the table, and followed Veale, wRo bore the lady from the 
house wrapped in the rich mantle. 

Wallace looked after them with a dubious, thoughtful 
look clouding his honest brow. It was long before he 
heard again from the mysterious visitors, but he kept 
a more vigilant watch for passing vessels, and answered 
more readily to unexpected calls than before. 

At last they came again. It was night, as before, but 


HISTORY OF DUNGEON ROCK. 11 

the pale full moon was shedding its pure radiance over 
the sleeping earth. He was not startled this time. He 
was alone in the house, and three heavy knocks were 
heard upon the outer door. They soon entered the 
house. Four strong, dark-looking men, bearing a huge 
box, that seemed heavy with something more than its own 
weight, or the strong irons that bound it, and, as it 
reached the floor, a dull ring from the inside told a strange 
tale of darkness. But the men spoke not, except in 
monosyllables, and Wallace forbgre to question them. 

As soon as they had found a place for the box they 
left, and, after being gone some time, returned with 
another, corresponding in size with the first, but appar- 
ently lighter and less firmly secured. As they placed 
it upon the floor the spring (for there were few locks in 
those days) flew open, revealing rich dark silks, with 
heavy gold lace trimmings, small wrought cases of ebony 
or ivory, and beautiful ornaments of all kinds. They 
appeared to be not in the least disconcerted, but closed 
the box again with a loud noise, just as Harris entered 
with a stranger clad in Spanish citizen’s dress. There 
was a striking contrast in their looks, as Harris raised the 
elegant bandit cap from his high white brow, and passed 
his delicate fingers through the short clustering curls, 
and the stranger flung his heavy slouched hat upon the 
floor beside him, and stroked his thick, black moustachios 
with his sun-browned hand. 

“We must arrange this matter as quick as practica- 
ble,” said Harris, in an under tone, apparently continuing 
their former conversation. “ If you have any papers of 
consequence, I shall expect you to give them up. You 


12 


HISTORY OP DUNGEON ROCK. 


can take a small tract of land somewhere near here ; or, 
when we go back to the continent, you can return ; but 
you will be obliged to keep it constantly in your mind 
that dead men tell no tales, and living ones are not 
allowed to; — do you understand?’’ and the youthful 
leader of that strong band looked fearlessly upon the dark 
face beside him. 

A low mutter of dissatisfaction escaped the swarthy 
Spaniard as he said, “ I want none of your bribes ; I want 
my honest pay.” 

Ah ! and how much ? ” said Harris, carelessly. 

“ Four thousand roubles, which will just pay my for- 
feiture, and let me back to my own country,” was the 
gloomy reply. 

A quick look of intelligent forethought passed over 
Harris’ face, but he only replied, calmly, “ You shall have 
it ; ” then, turning from the warm fire, he commenced an 
animated conversation with Wallace concerning his posi- 
tion and its profits. 

‘‘ Where are your men? ” suddenly exclaimed the stran- 
ger, rising from his seat, and drawing the heavy folds of 
his Spanish cloak more closely about his short figure. 

They have gone up the river in the boat, and will 
soon return,” replied Harris. 

Do you reside near here ? ” asked Wallace. 

Harris laughed. Our traflSc is such that it requires 
us to be constantly on the wing, and we have chosen this 
as our stopping place,” he answered. 

Wallace did not notice the reply; he was looking 
thoughtfully at the heavy chests, and wondering what 
they contained. Harris saw it ; he knew that suspicion 


HISTORY OF DUNGEON ROCK. 


13 


was worse than a knowledge; so, carelessly continuing 
the conversation, he said, ‘‘We have a great deal of 
merchandise to transport, and such cases as these are very 
useful. This,’’ he said, pushing the spring to one of 
them, “ contains clothing for my wife. Lady Morrillo, 
which is my native name.” 

“ But these are Spanish goods, I take it,” said Wallace, 
with an earnest look at the nicely-packed box. 

“They are,” was the reply; “they came from the 
capital. I had an opportunity to procure them easily ; 
and, besides, I like the Spanish costume for a lady ; espe- 
cially when travelling. See,” he. continued, raising a 
delicate jewel-case, and turning the flashing diamonds to 
the light ; “ this is of native Spanish workmanship, and 
there is more beauty than durability to it, I expect.” 

“Yes,” said the stranger, rousing himself from the 
drowsy sleep into which he had fallen ; “ yes, that came 
from the queen’s boudoir. I tried hard to save them, but 
it was no use ; the robbers were too strong for us.” And 
with a heavy sigh the man leaned his head against the 
back of his large chair, and appeared to sleep. 

A dark thought flashed across Wallace’s mind ; but 
Harris laughed so unconcernedly, and handled the bril- 
liant ornaments with such natural, careless ease, that he 
forgot his suspicions in their beguiling talk. 

“ Why do you have the chests made so strong ? ” Wal- 
lace asked after a while. 

“0, we need it,” he replied, “lifting them in and 
out the boats ; and sometimes we have articles of value tc^ 
carry. Now, that case has all our most important papers 
in it. So it is necessary that it should be made strong.” 

2 


14 


HISTORY OF DUNGEON ROCK. 


*^Yes/’ said the stranger, again, with more energy 
than before; the papers and all that money belong tc 
the Spanish government. It was an infernal mean 
scheme letting those banditti into the banquet, but little 
Cristelle was wilful, and fancied their handsome clothes 
covered honest hearts.’’ 

^‘Come, Don Jose,” said Harris, gayly, ‘^do try to 
wake your sleepy ideas before you talk any more. I 
presume,” he added, turning to Wallace, and noting the 
dark foreboding that again crossed his brow, “ that he 
refers to some valuable pieces of plate in our possession. 
You remember when the last rebellion took place the 
capital was said to have been robbed. At that time the 
insurgents placed some of their spoils in trust in our 
hands, and we still retain them. Don Jose is confused 
to-night ; what with the sea-sickness, and the change from 
cold to warm air, he is nearly insensible ; ” and he laughed 
a careless, merry laugh, at the same time casting a look 
of stern, contemptuous reproof upon the cowering 
Spaniard. 

At this stage of affairs the sound of heavy voices, and 
the tramp of measured steps., told that the men had 
returned. Don Jose sprung from his seat with a quick, 
nervous motion, drew his hat over his dark flashing eyes, 
and waited impatiently for further motions. Wallace 
opened the door, and, as he supposed, the same four men 
that brought the boxes entered to remove them. He 
was deceived, however, by their dress ; the whole band, 
consisting of between thirty and forty members, dressing 
alike, excepting the five leaders and Harris, who, although 
he had not yet reached the twenty-second year of his 


HISTORY OF DUNGEON ROCK. 


15 


age, was universally acknowledged as leader of the 
whole ; his father having held that place until his death, 
which occurred two years before. 

And now the tangled thread of our history leads us 
back, three long and changing years, to a small thatched 
cottage in Italy, where all day long the air is heavy with 
perfume, and the sun goes down at eventide in a sea of 
purple, and crimson, and gold. 

Mother, you do wrong to judge Morrillo so harshly,’’ 
said a low, sweet voice, one midsummer night. ^^True 
he wears the bandit frock and cap, but I know they hide 
a noble head, and shield a generous heart. Besides he 
is so young now, that his father’s will is the only law he 
knows ; he never had a mother to tell him how to live.” 
And the voice was low and sad, and the slight form of 
Arabel Ortono glided away from the drooping vine she was 
trailing, and sought her favorite retreat in the shaded 
veranda. 

Her mother soon sought her there, and paused a mo- 
ment in the low, arched doorway, to contemplate the 
picture before her. Arabel was kneeling in a shaded 
niche, her fair young face flushing and paling alternately, 
her long golden-brown curls sweeping over the closely- 
fitting spencer of darkest hue, and her eyes raised to 
catch the brightest moonbeams as they struggled through 
the thick vines. 

‘‘ Well, Arabel,” said the mother, at last interrupting 
the girl’s revery, you have argued the young pirate’s 
cause pretty faithfully ; now let me hear you protect your 
own. Tell me how, and why, you first became interested 


16 


HISTORY OF DUNGEON ROCK. 


in those most lawless of all unlawful men, and I will try 
to be reasonable with your wild fancies.’’ 

Proudly the young Venetian rose from her lowly place 
and stood beside her mother. “ Almost,” said the mother, 
playfully measuring the girl’s height with her eye, al- 
most as tall as 1.” 

Yes, mother,” answered the girl, I am at least 
large enough to know how to talk reasonably.” And a 
light, scornful smile flitted over the fair, pale face. 

The mother noticed it, but only answering, calmly, I 
am ready, now,” she seated herself upon the long, rustic 
bench, and prepared to listen. 

‘^Fourteen years ago to-day,” Arabel commenced, in 
a low, hurried voice, my father died, and left you with 
three small children, myself the youngest, and for that 
reason most fondly cherished. ‘ You must teach them 
how to live, Clare tte,’ I heard him say, one bright, moon- 
lit evening, when you was weeping by his bedside in our 
palace home, and we were nestled on the low divan in the 
deep windows, trembling and terrified. I remember 
every incident of the dark and dreadful days that followed 
as well as though it were but yesterday. The heavy 
pall with its silver trimmings, the jet-black horses, and 
the dark and solemn hearse. Then our house was barri- 
caded ; and even you, mother, will not dare to say that 
the noble band of Morrillo’s followers did not help us 
more than all the Venetian police. I saw them then on 
that fearful day, and I honored the bandit badge which 
bound them to each other. It is to them we owe all we 
have here to remind us of our former home ; and even if 
they have in their possession the most valuable of our 


HISTORY OF DUNGEON ROCK. 


17 


family treasures, it is better so than that our enemies 
should have them, is it not? ’’ and the girl paused and 
looked calmly into her mother’s eyes. 

Yes, Arabel,” was the half-stifled reply. “It is 
time that you should know what I never dared tell you 
before, even though it fixes you more firmly in the pur- 
pose I am trying to change. It is to the gray-haired 
Morrillo that we owe our present home. All you have 
ever known of your father is only what your own child- 
ish heart taught you to remember. But there is more 
for you to know, and you must know it. Signor Ortono 
was a friend to the Venetian emperor at the time when 
his enemies were most numerous. When our house was 
barricaded, at the time you remember, was when the 
opposing party made their grand attack, and impoverished 
all the families that did not lend them aid. Ours of course 
must have yielded an easy prey, had it not been for the 
kindly interference of the pirate robbers, who, though 
they took a great deal that rightfully belonged to us, left 
us enough to procure a home and live comfortably. And 
this was fourtern years ago, when you had reached the 
third year of your sunny life. Ever since then I have 
heard from them occasionally, and, now — 0, bitter fate ! 
— that my youngest, and, as it were, my only child, should 
so forget the high estate of her birth as to look with favor 
on the robber’s child ! ” And the mother ceased speak- 
ing, but the scornful tones of her voice still rung in the 
girl’s ears. 

“ But you have not heard half my story yet,”^ she 
said softly, crushing back her rebellious thoughts. “ Ten 
years ago, when first my sisters went away from their 
2 ^ 


1^ HISTORY OF DUNGEON ROCK. 

own home to the vineyard in Orton village, one of the 
same band that helped us in our trouble gave uncle Fay 
a silver salver with our family crest upon it, because Lu- 
ella had not turned from her purpose when she was try- 
ing to reinstate herself in the family name. And, last 
of all, just one short year ago, Morrillo came here in a 
pelting storm, and claimed a home for a few hours. We 
knew him well, but he had entirely forgotten us. He 
feigned no surprise, however, when you recalled those 
distant, painful days, but restored with seeming pleasure 
all these mementos of the city home. You know, if we 
had the most costly articles here, they would be immedi- 
ately taken from us. He gave us even more than we can 
keep in safety, and for all these kindnesses I am very 
grateful.’^ And a slight blush deepened on the girl’s 
cheek as she ceased speaking. 

So it is only gratitude, eh ! that calls my Bel so 
often down to the sparkling waters of the gulf in the 
moonlight? ” said the mother, with the same unreconciled 
sadness in her voice. 

care not that you should know it, mother,” was 
the reply. ‘‘I have never yet tried to hide anything 
from you. I am proud to acknowledge the acquaintance 
of one so noble as Claud Morrillo. It is to meet him 
that I wander down the beach when I know the boats are 
coming in.” And, with a look of forced carelessness, the 
young Italian kissed her mother a good-night, and went 
to rest with a heavy weight on her proud heart, where a 
happy hope had late found birth. 

Years pass very rapidly when every day brings its own 
task and leaves no time for idleness; and now, almost 


HISTORY OF DUNGEON ROCK. 


19 


before we are aware of it, the luscious autumn is gone, 
winter withdraws his fleecy mantle, and the spring is 
growing old. Again the cottage home is hushed and 
still, the blinds are closed, and no sign or sound of life 
comes from the silent interior. The gray morning sky 
is tinted with gorgeous clouds, that gradually deepen 
toward the east, where they are bursting into one steady 
glow of crimson beauty. In the little room, that has so 
long been Arabel’s, the same slight form is resting, and 
the same low voice breathed out the last night’s prayer. 
But a change has passed over her still life, — a change 
>ihat is felt, but only half realized. 

“ Dead, dead ! ” she moaned faintly in her uneasy 
clumbers ; and in the hall below two forms are faintly 
discernible in the darkened gloom. They are the two 
older sisters, Christabel and Luella, who have returned 
from the vineyard to watch over their mother’s sickness, 
and attend to the last sad rites of her burial, — for she 
was indeed dead, dead. 

It is very hard to have death steal so dear a mother; 
is it not, Lu?” said Arabel, with childish trust, for 
grief had made her alike powerless to think or act. 

No, not hard,” was the calm reply, ^^for it was our 
Father’s will. Mother was not used to such a life. It 
would be selfish in you to wish her back again. You 
can go to the vineyard with us to-morrow, and then you 
will soon learn to be your own mother;” and Luella 
turned away. 

0, not to-morrow ! ” sobbed Arabel, convulsively. 

You will not go to-morrow, Christa ? ” and she looked 
tearfully upon her other sister. 


20 


HISTORY OF DUNGEON ROCK. 


Well, and if you stay another day, will you be any 
more willing to go? ’’ said the straightforward Christa- 
bel. 

Arabel pressed both hands upon her brow, as though 
she would concentrate her scattered thoughts, and said, 
mournfully, If you will let me stay until Friday night, 
I will go anywhere.’^ 

^‘Have you no reason for wishing to remain except' 
your own fancy? asked Luella, gently. 

don’t know,” was the sad reply; “it may be 
fancy, but I do want to stay.” 

“Very well, then,” said Christa, “we will do as you 
say; ” and so the matter was settled. 

Friday night came at last. The furniture was all 
packed or disposed of. It was arranged that they should 
leave early next morning, and Arabel wandered out 
alone to take, as she said, a last farewell of the pleasant 
gulf of Venice, but in reality to meet Claud again, and 
tell him her grief, and the new home to which she was 
going. A long, graceful boat came bounding over the 
water, and the pale, blue light in the stern distinguished 
it from every other sailer. Soon its keel ran far up on 
the sand, and a tall, handsome form sprang out, and, 
giving a few orders to the rowers, told them when to 
return for him, then walked on, leaving them to put back. 
Three times did he and Arabel meet and pass each other, 
and every time a look of recognition passed between 
them ; but there were laws to govern all their actions, 
which they both knew, to prevent deception. Then, the 
hours passed all too quickly for their busy tongues ; for 
there had boen many changes since they met before. 


HISTORY OF DUNGEON ROCK. 


21 


We will not talk so mournfully, any more, Bel. You 
have been more favored than I, for you have had a 
mother to love you,’’ said the youth, pleasantly. 

And you than I, for you have had a father to di- 
rect,” was the sad reply. For it was Claud’s task now 
to comfort the petted child. 

The next day the sisters sold the cottage and left for 
Orton Village vineyard. know not how we shall 
like each other,” Luella said ; and as an instance of the 
dissimilarities in their characters, we have but to look at 
the way they speak of their mother’s death. 

‘‘She is dead, Claud; my own dear mother is dead,” 
Arabel said, convulsively, stifling her sobs. “ 0, 1 can’t 
be proud now, for she is dead ! ” And, resting her head 
on his shoulder, she wept her grief away. 

Christabel comes next. She was writing to a friend 
of hers, a vintner whose place joined Orton ville. “ My 
mother is not living,” she wrote, calmly, “and, for the 
future, my home will be just where I chance to stay.” 

“Just two short nights ago,” so spoke Luella’s diary, 
“ our only surviving parent went home to the Father 
who gave her life ; her pale hands clasping the silver cru- 
cifix to her still heart, and her last faint breath used to 
speak to her dearest earthly treasures. ‘ You must be 
Arabel’s mother, Luella, and perform your own life-task 
well,’ was her only counsel to me. To Christa she said 
still less, doubtless knowing that she had her father’s 
strong intellect and thorough knowledge of human na- 
ture. Arabel was her principal thought, and no wonder, 
either, she is so young and inexperienced. I wish I 
could remember half that I have heard her say. I won- 


22 HISTORY OF DUNGEON ROCK. 

der why she said so many times, • If you would escape 
a life of unhappiness, remember what I say, and never, 
never wed an infidel.’ ” 

But we are making a short story too long. Suffice it 
to say that the girls soon learned to take each her own 
place at the vineyard, and direct the laborers at their 
work with quiet ease. 

“ It is not often that we meet now, Claud says,” mur- 
mured Arabel, after being six months in the vineyard ; 

but I know he likes his wild home better than this, 
and surely’ I do, it is so very pleasant to have no con- 
finement to certain hours of labor. To-night I am going 
again to the fortress — joy ! joy ! ” And she went fear- 
lessly as the wild bird to its mountain nest, trustingly as 
the lamb to the shepherd’s fold. 

Claud was walking on the battlements, with his eyes 
fixed upon the ground. Arabel ascended the steps and 
commenced the promenade. Four times they met and 
passed each other ; then, trembling with a strange appre- 
hension, she approached and laid her white hand on his 
arm. He started as though just awakened from a dream. 

^‘Is it you, Bel ? ” he said, and pressed a kiss on her 
pallid brow, then led her out from the deep shadow to 
where they could see the moonlight resting on the waves. 

“ Claud, I am afraid of you,” Arabel said, soberly. 
‘^What makes your hand tremble, and your cheek so 
pale?” and she looked earnestly into his face. 

Poor child ! ” said Claud, sadly. Arabel heard it, 
and answered quickly, 

0, Claud, I am not a child ! I can bear to know 


HISTORY OF DUNGEON ROCK. 


23 


anything. See how strong I am ! and she drew her 
hand from his arm and stood before him. 

Claud smiled sadly, and said, We are twins in sorrow 
now; both alone, Bel ! ’’ 

Slowly the blood left her face, and her hands clasped 
nervously together. Tell me what you mean, Claud,” 
she said, as she only half understood him ; ‘‘ tell me if 
you have no father ! ” . 

It is even so,” was the reply. “ My father died since 
noon to-day, and now his form is resting in the hall, where 
the soft light is gleaming out. Come, we will go and see 
how calm he looks in his majestic repose ; ” and, without 
waiting for a reply, he drew her in through the heavily- 
wrought curtains to the large, dimly-illumined apartment, 
where rested a metal burial-case which contained all that 
was earthly of the gray-haired chief, known as Morrillo, 
the bandit’s pride, there in the gloomy fortress, and as 
Claudius Etheredge in the brilliant Roman home. But 
none who met him at the brave display of chivalry, or in 
the more courtly halls of etiquette, dreamed their haughty 
yet affable host was the famous Morrillo, whom they 
feared and dreaded. 

He was my own dear friend,” Arabel said, in a low 
voice. How will you bury him? ” she added, quickly, 
thinking of her own parents. 

A mournful smile lighted Claudes beautiful face for a 
moment as he replied, To-night the carriage will come 
from Etheredge Hall, and to-morrow he will be buried in 
state from our royal home. I shall be chief mourner, — 
sole mourner, as to that part, — except a few fawning 
relatives, who know nothing of the dead except that he is 


24 


HISTORY OF DUNGEON ROCK. 


reputed to leave a princely fortune ; ” and a darkly bitter 
smile crossed the young Italian’s face. I hate such 
detestable hypocrisy,” he said; ‘'but my father always 
had it to bear, and I must take his place in everything. 
So help me, father ! ” and he bowed his head, and laid his 
hand on the cold, damp brow. 

Arabel was startled, alarmed, terrified, at his strange 
words. “ How can he go to Etheredge Hall ? ” she said 
“ Lord Etheredge is away, and does not expect to return 
for thirty days, at least.” 

“ How know you ? ” exclaimed Claud, earnestly. 

“ By uncle Fay Ortono, who married Lady Emelie 
Etheredge, half sister to the noble lord,” was the reply. 

“ Then they are not your relatives,” he said. “ But, 
tell me, Bel, if you can keep a secret.” 

She nodded silently and 'wonderingly. 

“ What is my name ? ” he asked. 

“ Claud Morrillo,” said Arabel, proudly. 

Claud smiled sadly, and said, “Yes, to you I am; 
but I have two names. Now, mind what I say, Arabel,” 
he said, sternly grasping her arm ; “ my father and Lord 
Etheredge are one and the same person ; and I am now 
to take his title, and be Lord Etheredge in his stead. 
But, by the acquaintance we have had with each other, 
Arabel Ortono, and by the remembrance of our many 
meetings here, I warn you to tell no one of what I have 
said to-night.” 

Then tearfully they parted, that warm, soft night; 
Arabel to weep until slumber closed her weary lids, and 
brought gay visions of future happiness ; Claud to return 
to the fortress, arrange his father’s business, snatch a 


HISTORY OF DUNGEON ROCK. 


25 


(Single hour of deep, unrefreshing repose, and, as the bell 
on the high tower rung out the mystic midnight hour of 
twelve, to see his father’s form placed in his own private 
carriage and whirl rapidly away, drawn by his own 
splendidly caparisoned horses. 

As morning dawned, Claud left the fortress in the care 
of the banditti, and went in a disguised conveyance to 
his home in Rome, and spent half the hours of that long 
day in pacing up and down the gorgeous rooms. Friends 
called, but he steadily refused himself to them ; relatives 
arrived, but he kept from them in scorn. At last another 
guest was announced. It was Fay Ortono, Lady Emelie 
and Luella having accompanied him to the burial. Deeply 
and truly did they sympathize with the young lord, and 
he appreciated their disinterestedness; for were they 
not Arabel’s nearest friends ; and might he not, through 
them, become better acquainted with her ? 

At sunset, that night. Lord Etheredge was buried. 
Waxen tapers were lit in the damp tomb, and heavy, 
mellow-toned bells tolled out the last requiem of departed 
worth. 

“ He is not an infidel ! ” murmured Arabel, joyfully. 

Mother in heaven ! Claud is good ; for he believes, and 
the monks have said mass for him ! ” 

Another half-year went by with magic rapidity. 
Again came the luscious harvest-time, and again the girls 
i7ere needed more than ever at the vineyard, when death 
dame again ; and this time, 0 terror ! uncle Fay was 
called. The girls worked nobly, so said Lady Emelie ; 
they should be rewarded for it, and so they were ; but 
when winter came, they could stay no longer, and, by 
3 


26 


HISTORY OF DUNGEON ROCK. 


Claud’s invitation, they went together to the fortress, and 
determined to make it, for a short time, their home. 
There was but one female there at the time, and she was 
the most silent of her famously loquacious sex. The 
girls lived very pleasantly together, sometimes for whole 
weeks seeing no one beside themselves, and again having 
company every day when Claud was about. But all this 
time Luella was fading. Her breath came quick and 
painful, her pale cheeks wore a bright flush, and her firm 
step faltered. Claud was first to make the sad discovery. 
He had been away on a cruise, and, upon his return, had 
taken the fortress for his home once more. 

You shall have all the physicians in Venice,” said 
the silent housekeeper, as she saw how sick the girl was 
growing, and the best nurse in all Italy, rather than die 
so young.” 

But it all availed nothing ; she was dying. Aunt 
Emelie rode over in her own beautiful carriage to take 
her back to the vineyard ; but she did not go. All the 
long winter she looked from the high arched windows, 
and when the warm spring air stole in through the rich, 
soft curtains, the light reburned in her eyes, and she felt 
her strength returning. Then they thought she would 
soon be well, and even she herself was for a short time 
deceived. 

But another subject was now uppermost in their minds. 
Christa was to leave them for the vintner’s home. She 
was married in the dim old cathedral, and a long train 
of attendants swept gayly out, for it was grand to be 
married beneath the roof-tree of the young Lord Ethe- 
redge, no one but Arabel knowing that the fortress was 


HISTORY OF DUNGEON ROCK. 


27 


the bandit’s hiding-place, and she, like a discreet girl, 
kept her own counsel, and allowed them all to live in 
blissful ignorance. 

Then Arabel was wedded, too, with lilies in her jewelled 
bouquet-holder, and knots of pearls in her long golden 
brown curls ; with a long embroidered veil floating round 
her slight form, and her heavy blonde sleeves caught up 
with pearls upon the shoulders of her satin spencer. 
Luella kissed her tenderly as a mother Tvould a happy 
child, then passed her hands over her smooth, dancing 
curls, and smiled to see them roll up again. 

‘‘ I know I look pretty, Lu,” Arabel said ; for when 
we stood together by the statues, just now, Claud said 
Luella was a perfect representation of pride perfectly 
subdued ; but Bel was a Diana when moving, and a Ma- 
donna when still.” 

Luella only smiled at her sister’s words. She knew' 
Arabel was not vain, and she had no fears for the future 
when her easy-chair was placed in the large cathedral to 
witness the brilliant bridal. ^ ^ Have I no sister now ? ’ ’ 
she asked, half sadly, half playfully, as Arabel danced 
by her, all radiant in her glorious beauty. 

Certainly,” answered a manly voice beside her ; she 
does not love the old friend less, but loves the new one 
more.” 

Luella turned quickly, and met a pair of searching 
blue eyes fixed upon her beautiful face. I beg pardon, 
lady,” said the man, in a slightly confused tone, 
thought I was a stranger here, but I believe we have met 
before.” 

‘‘ It may be,” said Luella, thoughtfully ; your voice 


28 


HISTORY OF DUNGEON ROCK. 


is familiar, but your looks I have forgotten. Then sud- 
denly remembering herself, she added, Were you ever 
at Orton village vineyard? ” 

The puzzled look left his face as he replied, So we 
are not entirely unacquainted. May I ask how you 
succeeded in the work you was engaged in when we last 
met? ’’ 

‘‘Very w^ell,” was her reply; “even better than I 
expected.’’ 

“ Then you are Lady Ortono? ” he persisted. 

“ Yes ; that is, I am recorded so. But I choose to be 
called by my own simple name. I am only unwilling to 
believe that might makes right.” 

“You do not mean to say it was from entirely dis- 
interested motives that you strove so hard for the name 
of Ortono?” said the stranger, wonderingly. “You 
had the property restored, had you not ? ” 

“No, Mons. Jerold,” she replied; “I have no wealth, 
no honor, no family. I honor you and your band for 
your steady attachment to each other. I could wish 
that the business you follow was more lawful, and the 
firmness you evince was in a better cause. Adieu, Mons. 
Jerold ;” and, with a pleasant smile, and a graceful wave 
of her thin white hand, she glided away, leaving the 
bandit captain laughing at his own inquisitiveness, and 
vexed that he could not be an equal with the fair girl, 
who had only her own native pride to support the high 
position she had taken. 

All those long, warm days, Luella had been lingering 
like a spirit, only half confined to earth ; and now the 
hectic flush burned deeper, and her eyes flashed with re- 


HISTORY OF DUNGEON ROCK. 


29 


newed brilliancy ; the blue veins, like a net- work of azure 
threads, were traced on her pure brow, and her hands 
grew more transparent every day. 

With the best medical attendance, and the kindest care 
that could be procured, she felt that she was soon to pass 
away, and she often spoke of death. 

“Bury me down by the water’s edge,” she said, one 
night, when they were watching, from the high windows, 
the moonlight on the dancing waves. “ Not in the 
sparkling sand here by the friendly tower ; but away 
out, where the shadows are long and dark, where the 
pure white cliff is rising in the still night, a watcher 
over the gulf. Then, when night comes again, I will 
come back to earth and tell you how to live.” 

And, before another moon had waxed and waned, Lu- 
ella slept the sleep that knows no waking. And they 
buried her under the pure chalky cliff, where she had so 
often watched the sea-gulls at the approach of a storm. 

Arabel and Christa mourned for their sister, but Claud 
had just become interested in the ideas of America as a 
grand resort. Arabel was all on the qui vive to go ; and, 
without one regret, with only a parting farewell for 
Christa, and an earnest, gentle look at Luella’s grave, 
she entered the boat with a light step and a light heart, 
and bade adieu to her native land perhaps forever. When 
they were far out at sea, the last object on which her 
eyes rested was the pure white cliff under which Luella 
slept. When they came in sight of land again it was only 
a single hour past midnight, but the long, loud cry that 
rung out from the stationed watch awakened every sleeper, 
3 * 


30 


HISTORY OF DUNGEON ROCK. 


and called up the eager and curious to catch the first 
glimpse of land. 

Where are we now ? ’’ Arabel said, as she went upon 
deck, and felt the land breeze sweeping around her, and 
filling the long, flapping sails. 

We have reached our destination,’’ answered Harris, 
as Claud directed the sailors to call him, for he felt that 
it was necessary to have a new name for every place, to 
prevent suspicion. 

Then fourteen of the crew manned a boat, and went 
ashore to make discoveries; they returned at nightfall, 
having discovered the place in Saugus known to this day 
as Pirates’ Glen, and still bearing the evidence of having 
been inhabited. The next day there were heavy black 
clouds in the horizon, and at night they burst in all their 
mad fury, causing the black waves to seethe and boil 
against the rough rocks in sight, and frightening Arabel 
almost away from her senses. 

We shall die, Claud, I know we shall,” she moaned, 
wearily grasping the silken covering to the lounge on 
which she lay. Then she fainted. Harris remembered 
a small public house he had seen upon the beach, and deter- 
mined that, be the consequences what they might, he would 
reach that. The men readily volunteered to accompany 
them, and this brings us back to the point where we 
started, the night that first gave Wallace an acquaintance 
with the band of men that afterward frequented Pirates^ 
Glen^ and Dungeon Rock. It was, perhaps, a week 
that they spent there, and then returned again to Italy ; 
not, however, until they had aroused the suspicions of the 
settlers, who were on the constant look-out for danger. 


HISTORY OF DUNGEON ROCK. 


81 


A few weeks after their return a great rebellion arose 
in Spain. Claud must go ; Arabel dared not, — so she 
remained at the fortress, with her own thoughts and the 
gorgeous works of art for company, and he started on 
the wild and perilous adventure. When he returned the 
boats were loaded with costly articles that had the indel- 
ible Spanish stamp upon them. These he secreted in the 
ancient fort. Some were carried away up to their hiding- 
place in Wales, and others were retained in Spain. The 
greater part, however, were brought there, and to Ara- 
bel’s eager, childish questions of where he found them, 
and what they were for, he only answered, with a sober 
smile, ^‘They are all to be changed into money, Bel, 
unless you want some of them to wear.’’ 

But he heard flying rumors that he was suspected even 
there. That must not be,” he said, firmly; ‘^forl 
dread the idea of being known as a pirate. I cannot, 
will not, bear it.” 

So he packed the goods he had stolen from the impe- 
rial Spanish palace, all the beautiful adornings of the fair 
young queen, — for it was she whom Don Jose had called 
little Cristelle in the first part of our story, — and hid 
them in the low vaulted basement. Don Jose had been the 
queen’s valet, and Claud took him to be of future use to 
them in discovering the secrets concerning their enter- 
prise in Spain. Then he opened the doors of the ancient 
tower and fortress ; lighted up the long cathedral, with its 
dim arches, and quaint oaken carving, and gave his 
friends in Rome and Venice a banquet, at which he and 
his young bride presided. The rooms were crowded with 
beauty and fashion ; music floated through the long cor- 


32 


HISTORY OF DUNGEON ROCK. 


ridors, and up and down the winding stairs, covered for 
the occasion with rich, soft carpets. The night passed in 
revelry, and when morning dawned the guests departed 
satisfied. 

To Arabel it seemed like a fairy dream of beauty, so 
much life and joy around ; to Claud it was the hollow 
formalities of hypocrisy. He saw the eager glances, the 
suspicious looks, the cautious steps, when they entered 
the dim old rooms. He could bear his double part well, 
however, and he did. It was not long after this that he 
carried the most suspicious goods across the water, and 
landed them in the then unbroken solitude of Pirates'’ 
Glen. 

By this time the foundery was nearly built. All the 
men of the place met there to talk over their affairs, and 
here it was that Claud, or rather Harris, usqd to station a 
watch, and sometimes he would stay himself to hear what 
was said, and direct his own work accordingly. 

Arabel had been staying at the Glen several days, and 
begged that she might stop still longer, — the woody glade 
was so wild, and the distant hills so high. She was not 
obliged to practise constant deception there ; she would 
remain a little while ; and she did one whole long day 
alone, but she was used to solitude. 

That night the band was organized ; it was to consist 
of six men, with Veale for a leader, making seven beside 
Harris. There was another such band in Italy ; one in 
Spain, the beautiful land of legends and romance ; one in 
sunny, pleasant France ; and one away in muddy Wales, 
where meadows are greener and brighter for the stagnant 


HISTORY OF DUNGEON ROCK. 


33 


water beneath, and the ruinous old castle home of a 
former feudal lord was damp and gray with age. 

Two days Arabel remained in the glen alone, then 
Harris came back from the boat with Don Jose ; he ap- 
peared almost savage to Arabel, but he soon learned that 
she was the leader’s bride, and could do as she chose. 

At this time the first history, that is considered as 
really authentic, is commenced. A vessel, afterward 
known as the phantom ship, was seen in the waters off 
Nahant at or near sunrise. It presented to the eye a 
strange optical delusion of a ship resting motionless upon 
the water, and another, the exact counterpart of the first, 
suspended keel upwards in the air ; the masts and rigging 
of the two apparently touching each other. It was the 
pirate ship Arabel, that had come too far in at high tide, 
and was therefore obliged to wait until the water rose 
again in order to get out to sea. 

Don Jose returned to Spain, but his honor was gone, 
his queen dethroned, and he himself treated like a traitor 
on all sides. I ’ll not have the name without the game, 
I reckon,” he said, with true Spanish bitterness ; and, 
taking his only living relative, a boy about twelve years 
of age, left him by his sister, he joined the banditti as a 
wanderer, and not as a resident, determined to wreak his 
vengeance on the Spanish government. 

The next time the pirates came to America, Don Jose 
and the boy both accompanied them. They landed early 
in the morning, and the boy Carl took his place in the 
village as spy. All the long day he wandered up and 
down, his quick ear catching every suspicious word, and 
at night, while returning to the place fixed upon as the 


34 


HISTORY OF DUNGEON ROCK. 


look-out, he arranged the whole matter in his mind, 
making an accurate calculation of how many reliable men 
the settlement numbered when they would make their 
exploration, etc. By the time he had settled it all in his 
own thoughts he arrived at Look-out Hill,’’ or ‘‘High 
Rock,” as it is now called. With a light, eager step, he 
clambered up the rocks, and reached the firm platform 
upon the top. Soon he espied a moving speck far out 
upon the blue waves, and immediately hoisting the 
signal agreed upon, he raised a small glass to his eye, 
and commenced scanning the distant object. He was 
dressed in the Spanish costume of that day ; but there 
was as an oriental richness about it which is now lost to 
the world. It looked more like the Turkish apparel of 
the present time ; the flowing trousers and tunic giving 
a graceful air to his slender form, and quick, agile mo- 
tions ; and the whole occurrence gave rise to the interest- 
ing novelette entitled, “ The Child of the Sea.” 

“What success, Carl?” asked Don Jose, as he came 
up the long path from the boat-landing, and clasped the 
boy in his arms. 

“ The best, father,” was the reply, “but they are to 
have a meeting to-night, which it will be best for some 
one of us to attend.” He then told what he had heard 
through the day, and with his help the father rehearsed 
it again to the band. 

“ I must go,” said Harris, springing upland preparing 
to leave. 

“ Why you. Sir Harris ? ” asked several voices. 

‘•For this reason,” answered Harris, thoughtfully; 
“ Don Jose has just shown himself incapable of remem- 


HISTORY OF DUNGEON ROCK. 


85 


bering, by being unable to repeat^ Carl’s story ; Veale 
always needs to hear a story twice, in order to compre- 
hend it ; and the rest are not interested enough to under- 
stand correctly, or report accurately ; therefore I must 
go, or little Carl,” he added, turning to the boy, who 
rose from his reclining posture and stood beside his com- 
mander. 

am not afraid, signor,” he said, firmly; ‘‘but it 
needs an older head and truer skill than mine to study 
the craft of Englishmen.” 

“Truly spoken, Carl,” answered Harris; “but you 
shall take my place here,” and, pushing aside the heavy 
sail, he entered a little room arranged for Arabel’s accom- 
modation, followed by Carl. 

“lam going over to the settlement, Bel,” he said, 
“and have brought you a new valet to entertain you 
while I am gone ; if you like his appearance, he shall be 
your page for the future.” 

Arabel raised her eyes from the delicate chess-board, 
on which she was listlessly arranging the men, and met 
Carl’s earnest, childish gaze, with a pleasant smile. 
“ But, why must you go, Harris? there are enough 
beside you,” she said, turning to him. 

“We are liable to be routed from here at any time,” 
he replied, “ and I alone can manage the part of spy, 
and decide when to remove.” And away he went, leaving 
Carl established in his new honors. 

“ I wish that I might die,” said Arabel, passionately, 
that night, after she had heard Carl’s story of the great 
robbery, and listened to his witching recital of the time 
when the young queen called him her little page, and he 


36 


HISTORY OF DUNGEON ROCK. 


supported her train in passing through the corridor, or 
held her fan in the audience chamber. He did not know 
how intimately connected his beautiful mistress and 
brave young commander were with the robber Morrillo 
and his powerful band. I wish I had died long ago in 
the little cottage by the water-side ; not when my mother 
did ; so pure and calm as was her spirit, mine would have 
looked dark beside it ; but, I was wild and thoughtless 
then. Methinks I have lived a thousand years since that 
strange brightness passed away. Where are you, mother 1 
0, come back to me, — to your own Arabel ! ’’ 

Even then there was a raging fever heat in her veins, 
and a delirious, wildering look in her dark eyes. Long 
before the morning dawned Harris returned to the Glen. 
The men noted his mischievous, glancing smile, more 
than his stern, commanding look, as he came out from the 
thick underbrush, and waved his hand as a signal for 
them to stop*. 

“ Have you removed and secured all our valuables ? ’’ 
he asked, ^^for I have an inkling, from what has been 
said to-night, that they will soon be on our track.’’ 

We have moved them all,” was the reply, “ and are 
now waiting for you to tell us what shall be done with 
our Madonna to-night. We might leave her there, if we 
were sure Sir Wolf would wed her before daybreak ; but, 
then, she is a woman, and will be certain sure to do as she 
is not wanted to.” 

Hold your peace, Don Jose ! ” thundered Harris, 
‘‘or we will know the reason. I would have you to 
know that my wife is your queen ; ” and there was a 
slight, mocking emphasis on the words, which brought 


HISTORY OF DUNGEON ROCK. 


37 


back the courage of the abashed Don Jose. ‘‘Remem- 
ber you are seven in number and one in thought/’ added 
Harris, as he turned to leave them; “and now go on 
with your work.” 

Then he retraced his steps to the deserted Glen, and 
knelt by the couch where Arabel had thrown herself. 
Her eyes were closed; one white hand lay above her head, 
half shaded by the rich folds of her satin dress, that 
looked, with its glittering ornaments, better fitted for a 
bridal or a banquet, than for that lonely forest home. 

“Mother,” she moaned, faintly, “I am not dying; I 
shall not die.” 

“ Arabel,” said Harris, softly. 

“ I did obey you, mother. I spoke my marriage vows 
kneeling by the altar side,” she went on; “the priest’s 
white robes swept by us, and the holy prayers went softly 
up to God in the twilight.” 

“Yes, Bel, we are married in proper order; but don’t 
stop to talk of that,” Harris said again. “ I want to ask 
you how much misery you can bear?” 

Slowly she opened her large dark eyes, and fixed them 
on his face. “I can bear all things, for I am strong,” 
she replied, quoting his own words on a former occasion. 

Harris paused ; a momentary shudder passed over him, 
and he asked, “Would you not like to go back to 
Italy? ” 

“Not yet,” she answered, for she feared the idea of 
bejng known and recognized as the pirate’s bride, and 
felt that she was not strong enough to carry out her two 
parts. 

Then he told her how and why they must leave the 

4 


38 


HISTORY OF DUNGEON ROCK. 


Glen, pointed out the slight but perfect trail they had 
formed, and took his own pocket compass to show her 
how she could tell in what direction they each lay from 
the other. 

The next morning there was no trace of human life at 
the Glen ; but away across thick, densely-growing wood, 
and low, slimy swamps, where the high cliff rose in bold 
relief against the fiery eastern sky, two living beings 
could be seen upon the firm land, where a natural road 
wound round the brow of the rocky hill. They were 
Harris and Carl, the rest having left some time before, 
and they were now going to join them, leaving Arabel 
alone there in the large chamber which the earth’s con- 
vulsions had formed in the solid rock. 

Noon came ; the sun was pouring its fiercest rays upon 
the high hill, and Arabel wandered to the thick vines 
with which the open door of the entrance had been con- 
cealed, to catch, if she might, a single breath of air to 
cool her throbbing brow. Suddenly, away where the 
tiny, trembling needle told her to look for her former 
abiding place, she saw a light smoke curling up. In- 
stinctively she trembled with fear, forgetting that the 
whole wood might be consumed, and still the sheltering 
rock remain uninjured. “ I must see what it is,” she 
said ; and, climbing slowly up the rocks, she reached the 
top, and proudly, fearlessly looked down below. Scarcely 
discernible in the thick shadows she saw a party of men, 
armed, with flaming torches, creeping cautiously on 
toward the Glen. She laughed a wild, ringing laugh, that 
echoed far and wide ; and for many years the weird-like 
story of the phantom lady, decked in silks and jewels, 


HISTORY OF DUNGEON ROCK. 


39 


and laughing at those who tried to discover the pirates' 
treasures, was told, beside the fire, in the long winter 
evenings, until at last it was thrown aside as a super- 
stitious falsehood, and now is only remembered in a few 
families as a quaint legend of former years. 

It was only two short days from then that Harris re- 
turned, but Bel was a spirit. The excitement of those 
fearful hours had been too much for her. She drew the 
downy, silken couch to the side of the spring in the 
rock, where the clear water fell from the crevices above, 
with a musical tinkle, into a large open basin below, and 
there, in that silent room, 


“ She rested her fair pale face alone 
By the cool bright spring in the hallowed stone; 

her jewelled hand supporting her head, crowned with its 
tiara of velvet and pearls, her long brown hair floating 
like a veil over her richly- wrought dress, and her slip- 
pered feet resting on a smooth slab of Italian marble, 
which had been brought there to confine the waters in 
the spring. 

And thus they found her, sleeping calmly, peacefully, 
her eyes closed tightly, and her teeth set firmly together. 
There was a strange calmness in Harris’ manner, as he 
pressed his hand upon her cold, damp brow, and swept 
back her long spiral curls. Then, with a quick, excited 
glance at her firmly-closed eyes, he gave rapid orders for 
a burial-case, such as they always carried with them, to 
be brought up, that her body might be placed in it and 
carried to Italy. As he raised the inanimate form in his 
arms, and laid her head upon a cushion of velvet and 


40 


HISTORY OP DUNGEON ROCK. 


eider-down, a paper floated out from the heavy folds of 
. her dress, and rested on the stones at his feet. He took 
it up ; it was a few verses of poetry, traced in the delicate 
Italian penmanship of Arabel’s own hand. Tears sprang 
to the almost girlish eyes of the boy, Carl, as he saw 
them. 

“She was like a sister to you, was she not, Carl?’’ 
Harris said, kindly, laying his hand upon the boy’s head. 
A deep sigh was his only answer, and the boy turned 
away. Then, drawing a richly-chased knife from a 
wrought case by his side, he lifted one of the long ring- 
lets from her dress, and turned a beseeching look upon 
Harris. “You may have it, Carl,” he answered to the 
boy’s look ; and the bright, polished steel glanced in among 
the waving hair, until only the gold -tipped haft was 
visible. 

“What will you do with that, signor?” Carl said, 
pointing to the paper. Harris glanced over it, and then 
read aloud : 

“ Bury me not by the water’s edge, 

Away in my dear old home, 

Nor in the shade of the pure white cliff. 

Where the screaming sea-gulls come. 

But away, away, on the high hill’s brow. 

Where the dark trees darker wave. 

Ye have found for me a stranger home, — 

0, give me a stranger grave ! ” 

“ I have no one but you to advise me, Carl; now tell 
me what to do,” Harris said. 

Carl looked out at the glowing western sky, and said, 
“ She will be better pleased if we comply with her last 
request; we will bury her here.” 


HISTORY OF DUNGEON ROCK. 


41 


Harris only smiled at the boy’s reply, and he went on : 
“Will you give her to the cold earth decked so showily? 
That brilliant, silken, fluttering dress, and those richly- 
gleaming pearls, are too earthly for death’s bridal, are 
they not ? ” 

“It makes very little difference what the poor, frail 
body wears, Carl,” Harris answered, mournfully. “We 
will bury her as she is.” 

He did not stop to count the cost of the dress she 
wore. There were plenty more of the same kind in the 
cases. Then he placed her in the delicately wrought coffin, 
only unclasping a single bracelet from her rigid arm, to 
be kept as a remembrance of that dark day. 

After that the men saw, or imagined, that Harris 
grew more stern and changeless in his work, and more 
thoughtful in his life, than before. One night, when 
they were preparing to leave, he said, “The suspicion 
of the colony is aroused; we must keep it up.” Then, 
taking a slip of paper from his portmanteau, he wrote an 
order upon it, and read it aloud. It was for a certain 
amount of handcuffs, hatchets, and chains, to be left at 
a specified place in the wood, where a quantity of silver, 
to their full value, would be found in their stead. 

“Which of you will lay this beside the central forge 
in the foundery to-night ?” he asked, carelessly. 

The men drew back, and an involuntary shudder ap- 
peared to pass from one to the other. It was the first 
time such a subject had been broached. Force had never 
been used with them, and they apparently dreaded the 
thought of it. 


4 * 


42 


HISTORY OF DUNGEON ROCK. 


Stand up, my brave men,’’ said Harris, bitterly; 
let me see how many cowards our crew numbers.” 

Instantly, as though struck by an electric shock, the 
eight powerful men rose to their feet, and eight strong 
right hands grasped the sword-hilts by their sides. 

Carl’s dark blue eyes looked trustfully into his young 
commander’s face, and he said, Signor, the Madonna 
looks at you from the bright stars ; think you she would 
not mourn to hear you call the men, that have served 
you so long and well, cowards?” 

^‘True, Carl; I was angry and unreasonable. Your 
girlish manliness makes me ashamed of myself,” answered 
Harris ; but I do not like to give up the idea of fright- 
ening the colonists. They saw our little sailer last night 
and yester morn, and will be on the look-out for her 
again. Here, Roland, I know you are not afraid ; take 
the order, and, to reward you for going, I promise that 
the manacles shall never be used on you.” 

Then three cheers for little Carl rung out upon the 
air, and he lifted the handsome velvet cap from his dark 
flowing hair, and bowed low to acknowledge the com- 
pliment. 

Soon after this, Harris returned to Italy, and Don Jose 
became commander of a clipper of his own, Carl still 
accompanying him. After Harris had arranged his 
affairs in Italy, so that they no longer needed his pres- 
ence, he entirely abandoned the idea of a home on the 
firm land, and roamed about wherever fancy dictated or 
news called him. Upon going to their hiding-place in 
Wales, at one time, he saw a girl, habited in the common 
dress of Welsh peasants, half sitting, half kneeling, by 


HISTORY OF DUNGEON ROCK. 


43 


the road-side, making wreaths and bouquets from a col- 
lection of flowers beside her, and placing them in a bas- 
ket on fresh green leaves. 

Buy flowers, sir? buy flowers?” she asked, as he 
came up. 

Yes,” was the reply, ‘‘ take all you have ; and come 
with me. I have no way to carry them without your • 
basket, — come.” 

Pay, sir?” she said, looking into his face with a 
roguish, merry smile, making her black eyes dance, and 
showing her white, even teeth. 

Harris laughed, threw a bit of money towards her, and 
walked on. She gathered up her treasures and followed. 
They entered the castle, and every man drank to the 
health of the pretty flower-girl. She drew back trem- 
bling, and tried to run away. Harris stopped her, and led 
her to a low seat where the sunlight looked in, bidding 
her go on with her work, and when that was finished he 
had plenty more for her to do. She laughed and pouted, 
and at last went to work again. 

After that she was often at the castle, and at last 
she too embarked on the waters, to find a home in the 
new country. There was a dark rumor afloat, at the 
time, of force used to make the wild Cathrin go with 
the pirate band ; but it was soon forgotten. 

After this there were more regular rules observed; 
only the seven regular members staying at the Glen and 
the rock, and sometimes only five. Cathrin was given 
over to Veale, but why it was that she never saw any 
more of Harris she did not know. 

One morning the Arabel shot out of the snug little ♦ 


44 


HISTOKY OF DUNGEON ROCK. 


harbor of Lynn, with all sail set, the whole crew on 
board, and all their hidden treasures left in the sole care 
of Cathrin and the magic rattlesnake. But there was 
trouble brewing. Even then one of the king’s cruisers 
was out upon the watch for the little, outlandish craft. 
They were well matched as to sailing, but the Britisher’s 
broadside soon swept away the fore-topmast of the Ara- 
bel. Then she was boarded, a hand-to-hand encounter 
ensued, and the pirates, instead of being subdued, tri- 
umphed, and took the others prisoners. This, of course, 
was a flagrant, never-to-be-forgotten offence ; but they 
kept on their way rejoicing, and at last met Harris at 
Wales. 

Where is the little flower-girl? ” he asked, as they 
sat discussing their business over the flowing wine. 

The men looked surprised, and Veale answered, ‘‘ She 
is at the cave, your honor.” 

“ At the cave ! ” repeated Harris. “ Why ! was she 
willing to go ? ” 

don’t know — that is — I didn’t ask her,” an- 
swered Veale, stammering at the thought of Harris’ 
displeasure. 

“Well,” Harris began, “ that is worse than I thought 
would be laid at our door just yet. You mean^ lotv^ 
detestable^ contemptible wretch ” he added, almost 
fiercely, turning to Veale, “do you know what you 
have done ? actually stolen the only child of fondly-dot- 
ing parents, and now trying to excuse yourself. I car- 
ried my mistress there, did I ? But we were married first 
— married by the rites of a church she loved and revered ; 
besides which, she left neither parents nor friends to 


HISTORY OF DUNGEON ROCK. 


45 


mourn for her, and went because she wished to. I will 
return with you, Veale,” he continued, after a pause, 

and bring the birdling back.’’ 

It was long before the Arabel again reached America, 
and when, at dead of the night, the pirates landed and 
made their way to the Glen, they were unnoticed, for the 
colonists had grown weary with watching, and given up in 
despair. 

‘‘Will you go home with me, Katy?” Harris said 
kindly, the next morning, as they reached the rock and 
commenced partaking of the provisions which the nimble 
fingers set before them. 

Tears came to her dancing black eyes, and she an- 
swered, firmly, “ I am afraid to go, sir. Can you not 
bring my mother here ? ” 

Harris smiled, as he asked, “ How old are you, Cath- 
rin? ” 

“ Eighteen summers and nineteen winters, sir,” she • 
replied, looking at him from under her long lashes. 

“Indeed!” said Harris, in surprise; “you look less 
than that.” 

A frightened, half-angry look passed her face, as she 
heard from the furthest end of the cave the heavy voice 
of Veale swearing at one of the men. 

“ You are not used to profanity, poor child ! ” he 
continued, but she did not reply. 

Soon after that another scene came up. Veale had 
been drinking hard all day, and at night was fairly intox- 
icated. As Cathrin came into the cave, her head crowned 
with evergreen, and her hands full of flowers, she heard 
the merry, musical laugh, which she well knew came 


46 


HISTORY OF DUNGEON ROCK. 


from none but Harris, immediately followed by a volley 
of oaths, such as she seldom heard. 

I can drink wine, and not suffer for it in that style,’’ 
he said, ‘‘ and why cannot you? Come, get up, now, or 
by the powers, I will run you through — do you hear ? ” 
and he brandished his glittering sword in true buccanier 
style. 

Yeale was lying upon the floor of the cave, apparently 
not too insensible to carry on the joke. Cathrin shrunk 
trembling away, and commenced clearing the tea-table. 
Her pres^ce did not act as a controlling influence, as 
Arabel’s had. The men were willing to do anything in 
reason for the merry girl, however, and the life she led 
at the cave was not altogether intolerable. 

Months passed, and a little stranger opened his bright 
eyes and claimed protection. 

‘‘Who will be thy mother, darling?” Cathrin said, 

• pleasantly, for she thought she would soon be a spirit. 
But things were differently ordered. It was not long 
before she was out again, at nightfall, watching for the 
arrivals. 

And now again pictures darker and more gloomy arise 
before our parti-colored glass. 

It was early one bright autumn morn that Cathrin 
was kneeling by the spring, plashing the cool water over 
the flowers she had gathered, to keep them fresh, when . 
she heard a low, stifled, wailing cry from the beautiful [ 
couch where she had left the child. When she reached jj 
it Veale was walking slowly down the mountain path, | 
and the babe lay gasping for breath in the sunlight. All 
the long day did Cathrin chafe the marble brow and tiny 


HISTORY OF DUNGEON ROCK. 


47 


hands of the insensible child, and at night, when the men 
returned, she was still holding it in her arms. Harris 
looked pityingly upon her, and she laid the litlle form 
beside him on the silken couch. But the bright-eyed 
stranger’s life had fled. Cathrin was childless. 

Again we leave them for a short time, but their crime 
is not forgotten. They are watched constantly. At last 
three of them were out at sea, the remaining four were 
traced to the Glen, and there were taken. Before they 
reached the vessel that was to convey them to England 
one escaped. Of course it was the daring Veale, who 
spurned law and order, and defied pursuit. Harris had 
been in Italy some time then, and had, therefore, no 
means of knowing what was going on. Veale fled to the 
rock, but he was not pursued again. Cathrin lost her 
merry, life-loving heart, and pined in solitude. Veale 
used to light signal fires upon rocks to wreck vessels 
along the coast, and only when she saw him lighting his' 
dark lantern, and preparing his flaming pine knots, could 
she be won from her silent mournfulness. Then she 
would talk hours in her thrilling, childish way, and sing 
to him until her clear voice filled every part of the cav- 
ern, and woke the echoes among the gray old rocks ; for 
she dreaded the idea of feeling that her very life was in 
the keeping of one who would so heedlessly destroy 
others. 

“ You will not light the treacherous coys this fearful, 
stormy eve?” she said, pleadingly. ‘^0, I will sing 
you all the legends of my Welsh home, and all the songs 
Roland has taught me, if you will not go now.” 

Sometimes she would prevail, and he would sit by the 


48 


HISTORY OF DUNGEON ROCK. 


heavy chest that served them for a table, and laugh at 
the brilliant fairy tales she wove from her memories of 
the dear old home in Wales. 

But Cathrin was dying. Day by day her strength 
was wasting itself away, her cheek grew paler and thin- 
ner, and now a hectic flush burned in lieu of her former 
health. Her eyes grew dull and expressionless, and, at 
last, she died, her last song just echoing its burden of 
victory, and her last glance fixed upon the blue sky and 
the gorgeous sunset. 

Veale mourned for her as deeply as it was in his power 
to mourn for any one, but he dared not bury her ; he 
lived in constant fear that he, or rather the treasures 
there, WDuld be molested ; so he raised her in his strong 
arms and bore her to the inner room of the cave, then 
gently laid her on the shelving rocks, flung the soft folds 
of her India muslin over her pale face and staring black 
eyes, and went out from the cave alone, a sterner and 
more merciless man. 

All this time Wallace had been more or less interested 
in the pirates and their work. His noble black horse 
was often urged over the uneven road by Harris or him- 
self ; but now he took himself away, and denied all further 
knowledge of the procedure. Veale’ s provisions were 
exhausted. He dared not take the glittering golden 
coins to exchange for bread, so he obtained some cheap 
work, and determined, for the sake of occupying his mind, 
to earn his own food. How long he lived thus, we do 
not care to tell, but he gave up his business as wrecker, 
now that Wallace refused to assist him, and delivered 
him half the profits of their eight months’ treachery. 


HISTORY OF DUNGEON ROCK. 


49 


Now we have told the history of Dungeon Rock up to 
the year one thousand six hundred and fifty-eight, at 
which time the mortal pilgrimage of Veale was uncere- 
moniously ended by a terrible earthquake, which closed 
the ancient entrance to the cavern, and thus shut him off 
from light and life with his dearly-loved treasure, and 
the superstition-guarded charm and rattlesnake. 

From this time forth Dungeon Rock loses its interest; 
and only a weirdlike fascination hanging round it pre- 
vented its being entirely forgotten. It was years before 
anything more was done there, until, about forty years 
ago, a man residing in the town adjoining the one where 
the rock stands became impressed, or, as he styled it, 
dreamed, that, by going to a certain place in Dungeon 
Pasture, he could discover treasures formerly buried 
there by the pirates. He went, as directed, exhumed the 
treasure, and the probability is, had he been left to 
follow his own impressions, would have used it to open 
the rock. 

As it was, his nearest relatives took the matter up, 
hushed the stories that were getting afloat about the 
money, accused the man of insanity, and took the trash 
into their own hands. This seemed to have an undue 
effect upon the mind of the man, whose name was Brown. 
He had always been singularly nervous and impressible. 
When young he could commit a lesson almost at a glance, 
and recite it with perfect accuracy. As he grew older, 
he became morbid and sensitive ; would sit for hours 
talking or singing, his face lighted up with a strange 
smile, which, when he was aroused from his half trance, 

5 


50 


HISTORY OF DUNGEON ROCK. 


would pass away, and he become cross and peevish as 
before. 

After finding the money in Dungeon Pasture, he 
dwelt more upon such things than before, and often 
expressed a determination to run away, — a threat which 
he afterward put into execution, finding there was no 
way for him to recover his rightful property. He wan- 
dered away down east, where he spent several years, 
and occasionally told his strange story. It was by that 
that he was again discovered and brought back to his 
home, where, by bribes and threats, he was induced to 
leave ofi* telling the story. He never could be induced 
to work ; for he constantly averred that he had enough 
to make him independent, and, if they would let him 
alone, he knew where he could find plenty more. He 
has always been supported, however, by those who were 
said to have the management of what he found ; and, 
upon the death of his last near relative, a half-brother, 
he was placed in the Ipswich asylum for incurable insane 
people, where he will probably remain until his death. 

The next movement of consequence was years after- 
ward, when the city of Lynn was said to have footed the 
bills for any quantity of ammunition, to be used for the 
purpose of making a grand attack upon the obstinate 
rock, and forcing it to give up its trust. It proved a 
failure, and the city never paid the bills, either; but, 
many a quiet night after that, sober, respectable men 
laughed at each other about their fast-day blow. Their 
object was to fill all the principal crevices with powder, 
and have them explode in such a manner as would shatter 
the rock into a countless number of pieces, and thus lay 


HISTORY OF DUNGEON ROCK. 


51 


open the inside of it, and the cave, if there were any 
there. 

Some went away satisfied that all had been done that 
could be, and there was no treasure there ; others, that 
the original cave and its contents remained undisturbed ; 
but all agreed that they had ventured their share upon 
the sea of speculation, and should not try again right 
away. 

Soon after this, mesmeric clairvoyance became one of 
the reigning topics of the day, and almost immediately 
the interest of Dungeon Rock was again agitated. This 
time, one of the world-renowned singing brothers, Jesse 
Hutchinson, was the chief actor, directed by a mesmer- 
ized lady, who steadily affirmed the truth of the discon- 
nected history that had been handed down to them, and 
added her declarations to those who had firmest faith in 
the old saying of wealth in Dungeon Cave. 

The operations flagged not for days and weeks ; and, 
when at last Jesse gave it up, not as a delusion, but as a 
task too hard for him, others kept on, and made the hole 
still deeper and broader. But they too failed, and, for a 
long time, the hill was undisturbed save by occasional 
picnic parties, or Sunday groups of young people, who 
went there to enjoy themselves. 

Now our scene changes from the quiet, unfrequented, 
hilly woodland, to the limitless plains of the great West, 
where the waters of America’s broadest and deepest lake 
ceaselessly lave its shores. It is the hour of a boat 
landing, and any number of men, women, and children, 
could be seen hurrying to the wharf, with the first whole 
dish they could reach, be it wash-bowl, ewer, or skillet. 


52 


HISTORY OF DUNGEON ROCK. 


teapot, pan, or pail; and one general cry of ‘^whiskey, 
whiskey,’’ was heard throughout the ranks. 

In a small building, that served for kitchen, parlor, and 
bedroom, to quadruped and biped, two men, apparently 
near the same age, and both past the years of youth, sat, 
or rather reclined, talking busily with each other. 

Rum is a great curse. Marble.” 

Granted.” 

And, if a great deal ruins a man, a little, be it ever 
so little, injures him.” 

^‘Granted also. Long; but now look here. In our 
crew there are only men ; but I warrant that up yonder, 
when the boat landed, you might have seen people of all 
kinds and colors flocking to the wharf. You well know 
what they were after. Now, answer me this one ques- 
tion. Would it not be better for us to set the example 
by keeping whiskey for our own gang, and thus prevent 
their going to the boat, than it is to apparently counte- 
nance beastly drunkenness, by their drinking all they can 
obtain at irregular intervals?” 

Long hesitated, and Marble went on. 

I know your principles. I know you consider rum- 
drinking as the one unpardonable sin ; but, if you stop 
to think about it, you may bring your orthodoxy to agree 
with my infidelity. 

It may be so,” Long added, after a pause. “ I have 
thought a great deal on this subject, and am not yet 
decided. You have sold rum, have you not? ” 

Marble nodded. 

^‘Well, do you think what you have sold has done 
most — which ? — good, or bad ? ” 


HISTORY OF DUNGEON ROCK. 


63 


‘‘ Bad,’’ was the prompt reply. 

“I thought as much,” answered Long; ‘‘but that is 
not what I was going to speak of just now. I want to 
know how you would like the idea of keeping a boarding- 
house.” 

“First-rate,” answered Marble. “We could drive 
four stakes into the ground, stretch a bit of cloth over 
them, and name it the Marquet Eating Saloon, where 
shall be kept all manner of provisions, viz., whiskey, to 
be had at the shortest notice.” And a droll smile rested 
in the corners of Marble’s mouth, and twinkled in his 
small eyes, as he ceased speaking ; while Long, as the 
picture came vividly before his active imagination, threw 
his head back and laughed loud and long. 

“That is not what I wanted, Hiram,” he said, soon 
stopping his mirth and growing sober again. “There 
are a great plenty of such establishments going up in all 
parts of the country. We need a real framed house ; 
and, if you would plan such a one as you think you could 
keep properly, why, all is, we would find means to build 
it, and have it done right away. You shall bring your 
wife on to manage, and your children to inhabit it. You 
shall keep on being overseer. I will be a wealthy land- 
holder. Jointly and severally we shall be honored for 
inventing, or, rather, for starting the great Marquet Iron 
Works, and, by my faith, we shall live fat.” 

Then the two men separated, each to. his own place; 
and here it may not be inapropos to describe them. 

Long, who appeared to be chief director there, was 
tall, but rather slightly built, with a long face, intelligent- 
5 * 


54 


HISTOKY OF DUNGEON ROCK. 


looking, dark eyes, a high, but not full brow, and thin 
lips, that partially disclosed a regular set of teeth. 

Marble, who seemed like Long’s very right hand, was 
also tall, but strong and robust, with sharp, bright blue 
eyes, light waving brown hair, and a full white brow. 

On the night after their conversation, which we have 
recorded. Marble, who always, as Long said, if he put 
his hands to the plough, not only did not look back, but 
did not look forward either, and only attended to holding 
the plough, started from the settlement to reach a small 
hill at a little distance, partly to select trees from the lot 
for their house, and partly to think over the practicability 
of the scheme they had been discussing. He was walk- 
ing slowly along, with his eyes fixed upon the ground, 
when, suddenly looking up, he found himself back to the 
place whence he started. 

‘‘ Can’t you go as far as you can see? ” he muttered 
to himself, starting again for the wood ; but again he be- 
came lost in thought, and ^igain he found himself at the 
same place. 

Well, if you can’t go as far as you can see, you may 
go home,” he said, casting a regretful look at the wood- 
land, and turning away. It was a habit he always had 
of talking to himself, and it saved him many hours of 
trouble. 

Soon after this, he started for his home away in old 
Massachusetts, which, upon reaching, he found was not 
entirely exempt from the joint hands of time and sorrow. 
He had been at home from the West but a short time, 
when his youngest child, a boy of thirteen, was taken 
sick ; and thus his plans were frustrated. His sickness 


HISTORY OF DUNGEON ROCK. 


55 


was short and painful; and his burning cheeks and 
glassy bright eyes told but too plainly to the father’s 
heart that George’s days were numbered. 

About this time he, too, became interested in clair- 
voyance. Before going West, he had, at the request of 
a friend, consulted a phrenological subject, who predicted 
his departure, and also his misfortune — for such she 
termed the death in the family. After finishing her talk, 
she informed him that she sometimes told fortunes ; and 
asked if she might tell his. 

He did not care about it; had little faith in such 
things, etc. ; but, if she would like to, he had no objec- 
tions. 

She run the cards over, and told him essentially what 
she had said before ; adding that, in the course of a spe- 
cified time, she thought he would be in steady business. 

He was, at the time, all ready to go West with a party 
of men to establish the Marquet Iron Works. 

He went and returned. George, died ; but, as yet, no 
steady employment presented itself. 

While staying in Marquet, a young man, an entire 
stranger in Massachusetts, had described Dungeon Rock 
to him as his place to work, but told no names, even of 
the town or state where it lay. He was, at that time, 
careless, or even sceptical about the matter; but, after 
George’s death, he aroused himself, and concluded to 
investigate, and, if he could, to understand the subject. 

He came to Lynn, and, subsequently, to a distant rela- 
tive in a neighboring town. Here he staid some time ; 
and, upon one occasion, feeling unwell, he determined to 
consult a clairvoyant in the place, who was entirely unac- 


56 


HISTORY OF DUNGEON ROCK. 


quainted with him or his business. Accordingly, he ex- 
pressed a desire to have him consulted, and Mr. Wheeler, 
who was going to a neighboring town, offered to stop and 
see him, and, perhaps, invite him to his house, as Mr. 
Marble was there staying. 

He went, and, as he entered the room and made known 
his errand, the clairvoyant, whose name was Emerson, 
commenced talking, and finally seated himself at the 
table, and began to write with great rapidity, speaking 
now and then to ask or answer questions, and taking very 
little notice of his work. 

He was young, apparently less than twenty years of 
age ; but his dark complexion and keen black eyes gave 
a look of maturity, which his slight, almost petite figure, 
and long curling hair, instantly contradicted. When he 
stopped writing, he folded and directed the letter, and 
gave it to Mr. W. without a word of comment, having 
first signed his own name to it as a medium. 

‘‘But the gentleman thought he might want to see 
you on some other business,’^ Wheeler said, doubtfully, 
holding the document between his thumb and finger. 

“I presume it is there, sir,’’ was the reply; and the 
medium turned away. 

Mr. Wheeler left the house, and, instead of keeping 
on his way, concluded to return with the letter. He did 
so ; and, entering the room where Mr. Marble was, gave 
him the letter, and told him to read it aloud. 

Marble did so ; and, before he reached the end, Wheeler 
threw his hat upon the floor, and asked what he would 
take for half the rock, as he, Wheeler, would like to go 
into company with him. 


HISTORY OP DUNGEON ROCK. 


57 


Marble did not answer until he had devoured the whole 
contents of the letter, which really contained a great 
many mysterious and some unaccountable statements 
concerning the business in which he then was engaged. 
Among others, it stated that he would call there the next 
day and go with them to the rock ; which he did, accom- 
panied by a friend who generally mesmerised or put him 
to sleep. He threw himself upon the ground beside the 
rock, when he reached it, and, after becoming entranced, 
told how and where they must work, etc. 

And, now that we have got them fairly started, we will 
go back a single year, and try if we can tell a reasonable 
story. Soon after George’s death, as we have said be- 
fore, Mr. M. aroused himself, and determined to investigate 
the subject of mesmerism. Opportunities soon presented 
themselves. When staying at a public house, one night, 
the porter came to him and said, “Madame Y. is here, 
and wishes to see you.” 

“ Who is Madame Y. ? ” he asked, thoughtfully. 

“I don’t know,” was the reply; “but she sent her 
name, and bade me say she had told your fortune.” 

An indistinct recollection seemed to cross his mind, 
but he only said, “ I will go,” and was accordingly con- 
ducted into her presence. 

She recalled their former meeting, inquired as to the 
veracity of what she had then said, and ended by telling 
him there was a very good clairvoyant, Madame Maine, 
with her at that time, and, if he liked, she would put her 
to sleep and have him examined. 

He was at the time suffering from a recent attack of 
the Asiatic cholera, which was accurately described by 


58 


HISTORY OF DUNGEON ROCK. 


Madame M., even to the time and place of his sickness, 
for which she wrote a prescription, which he took in all 
faith. 

She then went on to tell what he was to do for the 
future. You will dig for a pirate’s money,” she said, 

and will find ” — here she hesitated. 

A bugbear,” he said, laughing. 

‘‘The pirate, himself, sir,” she added, “or, rather, 
what there is left of what was once a pirate, and a treas- 
ure with him.” 

“That is encouraging,” he said, concealing his unbe- 
lief. “ Can you tell me where this money lies that I am 
to dig for? ” 

“It is somewhere by the sea-side, I think,” she an- 
swered ; “ less than twenty miles from .Boston.” 

Well, he left with his confidence in mesmerism so much 
lessened that he never used his prescription. A short 
time after that he met two or three young men convers- 
ing upon that subject. They had heard something of 
Mr. M.’s experience, and wanted to hear more. 

“ What is the most likely thing they ever told you ? ” 
one asked. 

“ That I should go to digging for money,” he replied. 

A burst of laughter followed this grave assertion, and 
they asked to have it explained. 

“ Well, the truth is this. Madame Maine told me that 
I was soon to be engaged in searching, or rather digging, 
for a pirate and his money.” 

“ Do you know where it is? ” asked one, whose name 
was Olds. 

Marble laughed at the thoughtful look which had 


HISTOKY OF DUNGEON ROCK. 


59 


settled on their faces, and answered, “No ; she gave out 
when she had got about so far, and could not tell the 
rest.’’ 

“I’ll warrant it was down in Lynn!” exclaimed 
Olds. 

“ What do you know about Lynn? ” Marble asked. 

“ I have been there, myself,” he answered, earnestly; 
“and I have no doubt that there is money there. At 
any rate, I advise you to go and try it.’' 

Soon after this Marble consulted a physician, who told 
him that he needed a change ; the salt air would be good 
for him ; he had better pay the sea-shore a visit. This 
decided him, for, as he afterwards expressed it, everybody 
and everything he met seemed to pointing him away, 
away. 

“ I will go and work a fortnight,” he said ; and nobly 
well has his word been kept. 

Upon this he went and took a survey of the rock. It 
contained a huge chasm, which he thought would lead to 
a cave, if there was one^ with a very little trouble. He 
commenced work in company with two other men, and 
made slow work of it, too, as the rock was very hard, 
and they had nothing to direct their motions, and noth- 
ing but hope to live upon as far as the work in the rock 
was concerned. 

It was about a year that they worked thus ; then first 
one man, and soon the other, became weary and discour- 
aged, and left. The cave was still as far distant as ever ; 
faith had grown weak, and hope, which formed so tempt- 
ing a breakfast, seemed about to prepare a very poor 
supper. 


60 


HISTORY OF DUNGEON ROCK. 


It is about this time that we find how great is the 
power of perseverance. Mr. Marble, after the other men 
had left, continued the work for some time with his only 
son, a young man about twenty years of age. And thus 
it was, after working a year by the guidance of mesmer- 
ism, that we find him consulting the first clairvoyant 
medium^ and this led him into the mystic labyrinths of 
spiritualism, or spiritual philosophy. 

The grounds which the medium took were substantially 
these : that when, by the action of his friend’s mind, he 
was rendered unconscious, some disembodied spirit took 
possession of him, and told what living people did or did 
not know. He told Mr. Marble how to work in the hole 
he had excavated, and, at one time, foretold a circum- 
stance which was of considerable importance. It was 
that within a certain number of hours he would find a 
something to encourage him. It did not tell what, and 
the number of hours included a week’s time. Four days 
after that, an ancient-looking, rusty sword, with a leather- 
wound haft and a brass-bound scabbard, was found in a 
large seam inside the rock. Soon after being exposed to 
the air, the leather upon the handle crumbled away, and 
the thick, blue mould on the brass began to wear off. 
The chasm in the rock is still shown to visitors, and the 
prints where the sword lay in the clayey soil were once 
to be seen, but have since been removed, in the hopes of 
finding more relics. 

This was a great event to build a hope upon, and it had 
its full effect on the spirits of those interested. Dungeon 
Rock soon became a place of particular interest to me- 
diums. The well-known Mrs. Pike paid it a visit ; also 


HISTORY OF DUNGEON ROCK. 


61 


Mrs. Freeman, who had, on a former occasion, directed 
Mr. Marble to go to a certain street and number, in the 
city of Boston, where he would find an aged, bed-ridden 
woman, who would be of use to him. 

He went, and discovered Madame Lamphier, to whom 
he made known his errand as one who had come to have 
his fortune told. 

“ Fortin’ ! who says I tell fortins’ ? ” was the spiteful 
ejaculation that greeted him. 

‘‘Well, what do you tell?” he asked, convinced that 
she was the one he sought. 

“ Why, I have a stone that I look in, and if any one 
has business, it generally comes up here,” she replied, 
doggedly. 

“ Well, I should like to have you look into it for me,” 
he said, in a conciliatory manner. 

Accordingly she drew out her stone, adjusted her 
glasses, and commenced by seeing him in a deep, dark 
hole, with something hung up between himself and a pile 
of gold which he was trying to reach. She then kept on, 
and described a young girl, as she saw her, about twelve 
years of age, who was to be of future service to him or 
his work. “And you will not get through with the 
partner you have now, either ! ” she said, decidedly. 

“ Well, I was told that same thing about my last part- 
ner,” he muttered, half to himself and half aloud. 

“ What was his name? ” she asked. 

“ What do you think ? ” he answered, Yankee fashion. 

“ I see a large W.,” she said, musingly. 

“ Well, that is right ; his name was Wheeler,” he re- 
plied. “ What do you think of him ? ” 

6 


62 


HISTORY OR DUNGEON ROCK. 


I don’t know nothing about him,” said the old wo- 
man, cautiously; ^‘but I see one very mean thing that 
he did.” 

You mean to say he is a dishonest man, then? ” Mr. 
Marble said, for the sake of getting along faster. 

No, I don’t,” she said, fearfully; ^4ie is not dishon- 
est, but he took the advantage.” 

“Well, never mind that, tell me about my present 
partner; do you know name?” Marble said again, 
to turn the theme. 

“I see the same large W.,” she said, “but it looks 
finer and handsomer. 

“ Really, quite a compliment; anything more? ” 

“ Yes ; I see a great deal of wood.” 

“ Well, it is the land that I work on, — is it not ? ” 
“No; it is something in connection with your part- 
ner. I see him now. He is young — light-complected 
for a black-eyed person. There is something strange 
about his eyes ; they glare at me like coals of fire. He 
is not very handsome, but there is a taking way with him 
that makes the gentlefolks like him at first sight. Splen- 
did young fellow, ah ! ” 

“ Yes,” said Marble, “ fine man ; is he not ? ” 

An Indian-like grunt escaped her, and she said, “ You 
have not told me what that wood means.” 

“ Wood — why, it is his name — is it not? ” 

“ Yes, — I think so. It is gone now,” she said, and 
prepared to lay aside her stone. 

“You spoke about his being young; is he not old 
enough for that work ? ” Marble asked. 

“ In years he is,” she answered, moodily. 


HISTORY OF DUNGEON ROCK. 


63 


“ Not old enough in business, then, you meant, ’ he 
continued. 

In iniquity, did you say ? ’’ she asked. 

Mr. M. saw he could get nothing more from her that 
day, and soon took his leave. 

Time passed. Mr. Marble^ s confidence was betrayed, 
and his plans frustrated. Mr. Wood took the whole 
responsibility upon himself, and tried to buy the rock, 
rinding he was foiled in this, he hired a man to go to work 
against Mr. Marble. In this he failed also, and, instead 
of getting the other half of the business, he lost the 
half he already had. After this Mr. Marble had no 
more partners. The man Mr. Wood had hired kept on 
working there in his own employ. Marble had built a 
small house for his own accommodation some time before, 
and one or another of his or Mr. Wheeler’s family had 
done the work there, and kept them comfortable. Now 
the hired man offered to bring his wife there to reside, 
which he did a short time before Mr. Wood left. Mr. 
Marble’s family had been staying in the vicinity a while, 
but long before cold weather they returned to their home 
in the interior, and nothing now remained to cheer the 
unbroken monotony of his way. The long and chilling 
winter of the year eighteen hundred and fifty-five will be 
remembered a great while by the man whose work was 
to find a way into Dungeon Rock. 

With the summer came plenty and warmth again ; the 
little garden was planted, the carriage road laid out and 
built, where before there was scarcely a path ; a friend 
gave him two hundred dollars, to be refunded when he 
found himself able. With this he laid the foundation for 


64 


HISTORY OF DUNGEON ROCK. 


a large stone building, to be erected in the octagon form, 
somewhat after the fashion of the gray and sombre Oriad. 
Then another person, seemingly still more of a friend, 
was directed (also by the spirits) to forward two or three 
thousand dollars to have the work go on. This W'as a 
brilliant proposal ; but, owing to some mismanagement 
or mistake, it was never carried into effect. A short 
time before this a spring was discovered upon the low 
land near the rock, which proved to be a great curiosity. 
Then a small wooden house was erected, in addition to 
the one already there, into which the remainder of Mr. 
Marble’s family, consisting of a wife and daughter, 
removed. 

Soon after this, a party of people from Charlestown 
and Boston, who had lately become interested in the 
place, were there on a visit, when a medium, being 
entranced, purported to speak from the spirit of Sir 
Walter Scott, and requested a lady who was present to 
make Mr. M. a present, such as he (the spirit) would 
dictate. It afterwards came in the shape of a flag-staff, 
eighty feet in length, which was firmly planted in the 
place formerly excavated by the Hutchinsons. Then a 
flag with the appropriate inscription, Thy faith is 
founded on a rock,” was raised upon it by the lady’s own 
hands. There was no fear of starvation that winter, but 
the snow was 'wondrously deep, and the hollows were 
piled softly up, almost even with the hill-tops. 

When the spring opened, company came thronging 
again to the rock, to see and hear all that was wonderful 
and strange ; for the popularity of the place had been 
steadily increasing, and the world is ever on the look-out 


HISTORY OF DUNGEON ROCK. 


65 


for something new. All that spring and summer com- 
pany and visitors, picnic parties and relatives, were 
coming in rapid succession, and no material change was 
made, either in the work or their way of life. 

Fresh, dreamy September, like a maiden just passing 
from childhood to her teens, came softly on. There is 
but one more incident of interest to note ; that is, when 
the great philanthropist, and remarkable medium, John 
M. Spear, paid it a passing visit, in company with two or 
three other mediums. 

And now our history is finished. 

There is a small room, away up in the very top of a 
block of buildings, where the sun beats scorchingly down, 
and the dust whirls in clouds through the narrow street. 
And there, where afBuence is unknown, and elegance 
unconsulted, — where no rich tapestry shields the artist’s 
easel from the light, — is a work of magic art and mystic 
mystery, which has been seen by hundreds, and will be 
by thousands. It is a rare, bright picture — a childish, 
dimpled face, with deep, wondrous blue eyes, and thick 
clustering curls ; one round arm is flung over the 
shaggy neck of a large black dog, as if to show how 
perfectly the spiritual part of nature can overcome the 
animal; and the whole picture represents some half- 
embodied ideal, which is in future years to become a 
reality. There are, undoubtedly, the touches of the old 
artists, Ben West, Kaphael, and Angelo, about the work 
and their power may not be yet extinct ; but the world is 
not ready for such ideas as yet ; it must receive the truth 
gradually. 

But, the picture of Natty, a spirit,” has nothing to 
6 * 


66 


HISTORY OF DUNGEON ROCK. 


do with our present work. It is its executor of whom 
we would speak. He is an artist of some celebrity, and 
his painting of the spirit child has made him famous. 
He professes to have distinct visions of spirits in human 
form ; snatches of landscapes, birds, flowers, and, indeed, 
almost everything that can be seen in the natural 
world. He is a reflective, and rather a peculiar man ; 
there are silvery threads in his hair, and furrows on his 
brow, as though he thought a great deal. And he it is 
that has been chosen to do the work of planning and 
directing the laying out of Dungeon Pasture, which is to 
be called “ lowah ; a name which the red man gave it 
long ago, and which signifies I have found it.’’ 

The legend of that name is as follows ; Several 
hundred years ago the united forces of pestilence, famine, 
and war, had so reduced a large tribe of Indians, that 
only a very few remained, and, after calling a council of 
their wisest men, these few determined to leave the home 
of their fathers and found a new settlement ; accordingly, 
they started through the trackless wild on their vague 
expedition ; they passed 

“ Through tangled juniper, beds of reeds, 

Through many a fen where the serpent feeds. 

And man never trod before; ” 

and at last came to the foot of a large hill, with an 
enormous ledge upon the top. Upon climbing this, they 
saw spread out before them a panoramic view of what 
they knew would prove a good hunting-ground, for it 
had forests for game and water for fish. Then a loud 
cry of lowah ! lowah ! ” made the welkin ring, and the 


HISTORY OP DUNGEON ROCK. 


67 


whole party encamped that night in the large, open cave, 
before commencing their work. They called the river 
Sauguas, which means broad or extended, and when the 
tribe grew large and strong, and reached away down to 
the great Father of Waters,’’ they called the two 
beaches Nahaunte, which means the brothers, or the 
twins. 

All this is to be revived again ; the woodland to be laid 
out in groves, and parks, and forests ; the spring in the 
cave to be cleared again, and its brink bordered by 
marble slabs ; the ancient, scattered treasures will be 
gathered up, bright, flashing diamonds, clear white seed- 
pearls, with heavy gold settings, and antique jewelry and 
ornaments, that have been a long time lying useless. 
The heavy, iron-bound box, that was left there, has been 
disturbed and broken by the action of the earth, and its 
contents are now duly mixed up with equal quantities of 
dirt, loose stones, and rubbish, which the water from the 
spring, all choked up as it is, has for the space of two 
hundred consecutive years been laving. There was once 
a case of silks left there, but, as the cave is not perfectly 
air and water tight, the probability is that, although they 
look the same as ever, there is not much durability to 
them. The grave of Arabel, Veale levelled down, but 
the spot is still pointed out by mediums, and, although 
the tree under which Harris laid her has long since 
decayed, another has grown up very near where that was 
supposed to stand, which is now in the centre of a thriv- 
ing garden. 

Cathrin’s sepulchre is the ‘^rock of ages,” and traces 


68 


HISTORY OF DUNGEON ROCK. 


of her remains will be found upon one of the shelving 
places within the cave. The child was buried, but 

“ The string of pearls and the lock of hair. 

And the ring of gold that it used to ■wear,” 

will be found by Cathrin’s side, where Veale, with his 
superstitious reverence, placed them. 

The cave will be found in two separate apartments, 
beside the entrance, which clairvoyant mediums see as 
another room. Veale, himself, or rather his bones, will 
be found in the outer, or largest room, together with the 
remains of his shoe-making tools. The other contents 
of the rock we leave for time to discover, and the sagacity 
of the ‘‘Excavator’’ to make known. 

The medium that Madame Lamphier saw four years 
ago, at the age of twelve, has been employed more or 
less, for five or six weeks past, in writing this little work, 
which we now send on its way, without a single fear that 
its mission wdll be ever unaccomplished. The time for all 
things to be done is ordered ; and when we have said all 
that can be known about such a place as Dungeon Rock, 
there still remains one question unanswered — one doubt 
unremoved. Time alone can verify what hundreds have 
told, either by impression, clairvoyance, or entrancement, 
that there still remains a cave there, and that the present 
laborer, Mr. Hiram Marble, otherwise known as the 
Excavator, shall be the one to discover it. 


LINES COMMUNICATED TO A CIRCLE AT DUNGEON ROCK, 
FEBRUARY 22d, 1856. 


Far away from the voice of the rolling sea 
A noble banner is waving free, 

With its motto of blue on a pure white ground, 
And a single stripe of scarlet around. 

America’s tri-color, red, white,, and blue. 
Flutters softly there all the long day through. 
On the high, firm rock, ’bove the grassy strand. 
With its heavy brace, does the flag-staff stand ; 
While not far down on the rough hill’s side 
Is the small, rude cot, where the workers abide. 
We know, ere the cold winter flitted o’er, 

That want peered in through the opened door ; 
But hearts were willing to boldly strive. 

And hope and faith kept the soul alive ; 

So, spite of famine’s half-looked-for shock. 

The work still prospered in Dungeon Bock. 
Strong hands kept picking the stone chips out. 
And forcing the long, circuitous route ; 

Strong hearts were waiting, for well they knew 
That summer would bring them enough to do. 
With curious eyes, and a curious name, 

Or open purses and open fame. 

But the stranger’s scorn and the stranger’s love 
Were never valued true friends above. 

Years pass like the hours of a summer day. 
And leave no memento to mark their stay. 


70 


HISTORY OF DUNGEON ROCK. 


We have told of the faith in the Rock alive 
In the year eighteen hundred and fifty-five ; 

Let us turn Time’s current, and backward go, 

And see what new wonders her book will show, 

By skipping two centuries, just to derive 
The knowledge of sixteen fifty-five. 

There ’s a still, dark wood, and a winding stream. 

Where the cold, bright stars, and the moon’s pale beam, 
Light up a low path, by the underbrush hid. 

And gild the smooth plate on the cofier’s dull lid. 

There are hurrying footsteps and stified tones 
In that lonely ravine of earth and stones ; 

’T is the hiding-place of a pirate band. 

Who came from a distant, brilliant land, 

And their burden of spoils from the broad, high seas 
They have borne to that forest of woodland trees. 
Where the wild wolf howls in his dismal den. 

Or makes his home in that pirate’s glen. 

They are startled now, those men so brave. 

And are taking their treasure to Dungeon Cave. 

Away through the wood that once skirted the vale 
They had made for themselves an invisible trail ; 

And, now that the night was so dark and still. 

They were moving their spoils from the glen to the hilU 
An iron-bound box, with its shining gold. 

And a limestone fossil, pure and cold. 

On its soft, white cotton, was resting there. 

Treasured with superstitious care. 

There are noble hearts in that lonely home. 

And Harris, the leader, is soon to come. 

They hear him now, as they firmly tread 
O’er the fallen leaves and the flowers dead : 


HISTORY OF DUNGEON ROCK. 


“ Halt ! ” — the low, deep summons is soon obeyed, 

And Harris moves out from the tall tree’s shade. 

There ’s a light in his eye, and a stern command 
In the haughty wave of his ungloved hand. 

As he lifts the cap from his high, white brow, 

And says, “ My men, be ready now. 

Have you ta’en the strong box from the vessel’s hold. 
And well secured it, with all its gold ? 

Have you counted the diamonds we stole from the berth 
Of the fair Cristelle, on that night of mirth ? 

Have you closed my coffers ? In short, my men, 

Have you cleared all the trash from our silent glen? 

For I have an inkling, from what I have heard, 

By the foundery, to-night, that the settlers have stirred, 
And will soon be for finding the men of ease, 

That dare to murder on God’s high seas.” 

“ We have moved them all,” was the men’s reply, 

As Harris gazed at the moonlit sky ; 

“We have moved them all ; but what, your honor, 

Shall we do, to-night, with our fair Madonna ? 

Shall we leave her alone in the glen to abide? 

Will she make for Sir Wolf a fitting bride? 

Or, will she tell tales when they come to look ? 

For I ’ll risk a woman to find our nook.” 

“ Peace ! ” thundered Harris, “ and no more fun ; 

Ye are seven in number, in purpose one.” 

He added, more kindly, “ But now, move on. 

For to-night our labor must all be done.” 

Then he quickly turned toward the lonely glen. 

And left in the darkness that band of men. 

We can tell no more. But the lady fair. 

Ere the next day’s sunshine reached her there, 

Had followed the winding, woody road. 


72 


HISTORY OF DUNGEON ROCK. 


And found on the hill-side a new abode. 

At noon she saw, from the high cave door, 

A party of men and torches four 
Creep slowly in through the tangled green. 

Where the pirate robbers had last been seen. 

Three times did the lady fair look down ; 

Three sunsets she saw on that little town ; 

Then she rested her fair, pale face alone. 

By the cool, bright spring, in the hollowed stone ; 

And that night, when the pirates came home from the dell, 
They buried the form of proud Arabel. 

Then years passed on, and another bride 
Blessed the cavern home on the high hill-side ; 

But the pirates were traced to their home by the sea. 

And, of all the seven, there escaped but three. 

One of these fled to his rocky home, 

And dared not away from the cave to roam. 

But the merry Cathrin, the pirate’s bride. 

Mourned out her young life, that year, and died. 

And the sturdy Yeale, who could ever bear 
The darkest storm of both sea and air. 

Became a coward, and dared not brave 
The suspicious look of a lowly grave. 

So he carefully laid that form of clay 
On a shelving rock in the cave away ; 

And he flung the pure folds of her own white dress 
O’er her marble brow, in that dark recess. 

Then he wandered on, and lived, and grew. 

Like the rest of Lynn people, tied to a shoe ; 

For he dared not betray the gold, so bright. 

Lest he should be murdered, some silent night. 

But, at last, the great earth felt the earthquake’s shock. 
And Veale was immured in the prison rock. 


HISTORY OF DUNGEON ROCK. 


73 


Then time fled on, and the silent life 
Of nature alone by the rock was rife ; 

Till the baby city had a regular blow, 

Which shattered the stones to their base so low, 

And rattled them down till they closed the mouth 
Which the earthquake had left toward the sunny south. 
The good eflects which this blowing made 
Were to use the powder, and help the trade. 

Then again was the solitude deep and still, 

By the pirate glen, and on Dungeon Hill. 

But curious minds spied the legends out, 

And a new scene of labor was brought about. 

A mesmeric lady, of wondrous fame. 

And a band of brothers, with as wide a name, 

Became interested, and tried for a while 
The rocks of the Dungeon’s high roof to unpile. 

But, though they grew faint, we believing ones say 
That Jesse the talented, Jesse the gay. 

The brother that shone, ere he passed from sight, 

Like a trammelled star of unbounded might, 

This scene of his labor has not forgot. 

But is lingering still round the lonely spot, 

Where the brothers shall some time again unite. 

And sing for the dungeon with all their might. 

The good they did is, that the heavy bole 
Of the flag-stafi* rests low in the Hutchinson hole. 

Then, again, the excitement of Dungeon Bock 
Forgot to be the general every-day talk ; 

And the forest was valued, like other land, 

For the visible worth on its rocky strand. 

For long, long years was the silence unbroke, 

Save the owlet’s dull hoot, or the woodpecker’s stroke 
But, lo ! the hill-side must once and again 
7 


74 


HISTORY OF DUNGEON ROCK. 


Be made to resound to the works of men ; 

And a long, dark cavern tells half the fears 
And all the hopes of long, weary years. 

Now, onward we go, for a century more. 

To tell of the change that has flitted o’er. 

There are lofty mansions, and spacious domes, 

And silvery fountains, and pleasant homes ; 

There are green, bright trees, and flowers gay. 

Where now the dark forests so gloomily sway ; 

And, most of all, is an open cave. 

And a clear, pure spring the gray rocks lave ; 

And the plate-glass protects, without hiding a room, 
Where the relics of age and piratical gloom 
Are treasured in safety, not for their worth, 

But because they had rested so long in the earth. 
And the brilliant oxygen light at night 
Half shames the moon, with its pure, pale light • 
While a painted balloon, with its rubber case. 

Floats gracefully down to its proper place. 

As though it were waiting the moment when 
It could fly far away ’bove the homes of men. 

And be guided with equal precision and ease 
As far or as near as the rider may please. 

And the flag-staff’ glows with its highland plaid. 

With which the painter the bare stick clad ; 

While high ’bove the earth, in his own free pride. 

Is old Bed Jacket standing, his bow beside. 

And carelessly pointing to those below 

The way the wild winds in the cloud regions blow ; 

And the gay, pure flag, with its tri-colors bright. 

Is floating now to the morning light ; 

But around the bright scarlet, that once was its edge, 


HISTOEY OF DUNGEON ROCK. 


75 


Is a border of flowers, ’bove the rocky ledge ; 

’T is England’s emblem, the roses bright. 

And Scotia’s thistle, pale, green, and white ; 

The shamrock, that Erin’s children love. 

And the iris and fuschia that droop above. 

All these shall be gathered together there. 

While the workers faint not on the hillside bare ; 

And, at last, when the triumph is made complete. 

Shall be woven together these flowers sweet ; 

And hundreds and thousands yet shall see 
The flower-bordered banner waving free. 

And now I have finished this history true 
Of the present, the past, and the future, too ; 

And all ye great world, whether timid or brave, 

Look out for the next news from Dungeon Cave ! 

Enesee. 


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COMMENDATIONS O 


Ut’ 


J. C. WOODMAN’S REPLY 




LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 


0 001 481 103 5 o 


W¥: 


Mr. Woodman shows some scholarship, \ arious iT^diii^ and a good deal 
of ingenuity, and writes in a style quite superior to that of any other Spir- 
itualist with whose works it has been our iiiisfoUime to be lamiliar. In 
general his tone is temperate. This pamphlet is by far the ablest dtd'ence of 
Spiritualism we Imve ever encountered, it is wtnTh all the others put to- 
gether. Pr. Hare’s elaborate a|)paratus, and Judge Edmonds’s }»nderous 
tomes, and Count Gas pai in’s wearisome details of table-turning, have not a 
twentieth part of the point and force, that are shown in this little Jl^phlet. 
Such is the impression it has made upon us. — The Btadon Courier. ’ 

An Extinguisher. — if you would see diamond cut diamond, — if you 
would witness argument vanquishing /argument, just call at C. A. PiEitCE’s 
Periodical Depot in this city, and obtain A Reply to W. T. Dwight, D.D., 
on Spiritualism, by Jabez C. Woodman, Esq.” It is an Extinguisher. — The 
Rural bitelligencer, Augusta^ Me. 

We noticed this work some time since very briefly. On closely examining 
its pages, we find it to be the ablest, keenest, soundest, mcsst discriminating, 
and most unexceptionable controversial production, that has yet appeared in 
defence of Spiritualism. We heartily commend it to aJl who are interested 
in the discussion of this important subject. — The Practical Christian. 

The work may be regarded as certainly one of the able.^t expositions of 
Spiritualism, on Bible, historical, and philosophical gnmnds, which the new 
Dispensation has called forth. — The ISpiritucd Tdegrayh, N. Y. 

A more searching and satisfactory review of Dr. Dwight on scriptural 
grounds than the one before us could not be aslied by ajiy Spiritualist. Dr. 
Dwight is so completely defeated, and routed, there seems to be no possibil- 
ity for him to gather up and beat a retreat. And wlioever would place the 
best work in the market in the hands of members of tlie Cliristian profession, 
we would recommend Woodman’s Reply. — The Spiritual Age, Boston. 

This is the ablest work we have yet seen in behalf of Spiritualism. * * * 
It takes hold of the positions of Dr. Dwight against Spiritualism and effect- 
ually exterminates them, horse, foot and dragoons. It hs especially thor- 
ough in its treatment of the Bible view of the subject. — The Gospel Banner, 
Augusta, Me. 

This Reply exhibits all the acuteness of a lawyer* ; all the learning of a 
careful historian ; and all the zeal of a thorough-going believer in modern 
Spiritualism. — The Oxford Democrat, Paris, Me. 

It i.s with the Bible in hand, that the author Ints proved, that the Rev. 
Doctor in Theology understands nothing of the Bible. God created man, 
says Mr. Woodman, not to keep him in ignorance, but in order that he might 
be instructed as fast as his constitution and capacity would admit ; and this 
propo.sition the autbxir has very skilfully demonstrated by curious facts, and 
a multitude of considerations, which prove that he is at the same time, an 
j honest man, a great thinker, and a profound logician. — From the French of 
I the New Orleans Spiritualist. 

I Believers in Spiritualism, o’^e and all, should read this pamphlet without 
fail. It is more than a mere relocation of Dr. Dwight — it is a masterly and 
i most undisputable defence of Spiritualism itself. We have not read a better 
i — one more clear, succinct, plain and thoroughly sitisfactory. Let the truth 
! be scattered in this form all over the eaith. Productions like this of Mr. 
j Woodman will do blessed missionary work whurever they go. We bespeak 
for it the universal perusal it deserves. — Banner of hight. 




